how to solve problems

Planted Dec 2020 Tended 3 years ago

Contents

From the talk “Hammock-Driven Development” by Rich Hickey:

  1. State the problem
  2. Understand the problem: what do you know and not know? Is there prior art?
  3. Be critical: find the problems in your solutions.
  4. Gather input: read up on adjacent problems. Critique others’ solutions.
  5. Consider at least two solutions to help evaluate trade offs.
  6. Walk away: let your mind work unconsciously (diffuse mode), at least overnight.

Busy vs. Effective Problem-Solving

Shreyas Doshi contrasts “busy problem solving” which generates a lot of activity but meager results:

  1. See a problem
  2. Solve that problem
  3. Find the next problem

with effective problem solving, which involves asking questions like:

  • Whose problem is it?
  • Should it be solved?
  • Should we solve it now?
  • Do we understand the root problem?
  • Should we tackle that?
  • What are the possible solutions?
  • What are some non-obvious solutions?
  • Who should solve it?
  • How will we know it’s solved?