Problem solving models Rational problem solving Creative problem solving.
The Art of Problem Solving
Transcript of The Art of Problem Solving
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The Art of Problem SolvingTJ Gokcen | @tjgokcen
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The Art
Why is the wheelbarrow designed this way?
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The Art
Evolution of wheelbarrow
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The Art
Why is the wheelbarrow designed this way?
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Balance Scale
What is the minimum number of weights required to weigh objects of any number of kg from one to forty?
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Balance Scale
1
2
4
8
16
32
Is this correct?
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Balance Scale
1 3 9 27
The correct answer is 4
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Problem Solving Components
• Decision Makers• The ones faced with the problem
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Problem Solving Components
• Decision Makers• The ones faced with the problem
• Controllable Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker can control
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Problem Solving Components
• Decision Makers• The ones faced with the problem
• Controllable Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker can control
• Uncontrolled Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker cannot control
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Problem Solving Components
• Decision Makers• The ones faced with the problem
• Controllable Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker can control
• Uncontrolled Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker cannot control
• Constraints• Imposed from within or without on the possible values of the controlled and
uncontrolled variables
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Problem Solving Components
• Decision Makers• The ones faced with the problem
• Controllable Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker can control
• Uncontrolled Variables• Aspects of the problem decision maker cannot control
• Constraints• Imposed from within or without on the possible values of the controlled and
uncontrolled variables• Possible Outcomes
• Produced jointly by the decision maker’s choice and the uncontrolled variables
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Choice
• Choice exists only when
• The action of the decision maker makes a difference in the value of the outcome.
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Optimize vs Satisfice
• Decision maker tries to select a course of action• One that is efficient relative to the desired outcome.• This is what the decision maker values.
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Optimize vs Satisfice
• Decision maker tries to select a course of action• One that is efficient relative to the desired outcome.• This is what the decision maker values.
• Effectiveness is the product of efficiency an value.
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Optimize vs Satisfice
• Decision maker tries to select a course of action• One that is efficient relative to the desired outcome.• This is what the decision maker values.
• Effectiveness is the product of efficiency an value.
• One who seeks the best, the most effective, course of action is said to optimize
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Optimize vs Satisfice
• Decision maker tries to select a course of action• One that is efficient relative to the desired outcome.• This is what the decision maker values.
• Effectiveness is the product of efficiency an value.
• One who seeks the best, the most effective, course of action is said to optimize
• One who seeks a solution that is good enough is said to satisfice
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Our Problems
• Many of our problems derive from our dissatisfaction with the current state
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Our Problems
• Many of our problems derive from our dissatisfaction with the current state
• Problem solving is focused more on getting rid of what we do not want
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Our Problems
• Many of our problems derive from our dissatisfaction with the current state
• Problem solving is focused more on getting rid of what we do not want
• The effort to get rid of what we do not want is reactive
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Our Problems
• Many of our problems derive from our dissatisfaction with the current state
• Problem solving is focused more on getting rid of what we do not want
• The effort to get rid of what we do not want is reactive• The effort to obtain what we want is proactive
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Reactive Problem Solving
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Reactive Problem Solving
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Reactive Problem Solving
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Reactive Problem Solving
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Reactive Problem Solving
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Proactive Problem Solving: Idealized Design
• We specify where we want to go and we try to get there
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Proactive Problem Solving: Idealized Design
• We specify where we want to go and we try to get there• Always imbedded in a planning process
• Constraints:• Technological feasibility• Operational Viability
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Proactive Problem Solving: Idealized Design
• We specify where we want to go and we try to get there• Always imbedded in a planning process
• Constraints:• Technological feasibility• Operational Viability
• Bounded rationality
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Idealized Design: An Example
• Planning backwards from where one wants to be simplifies planning• Consider a tennis tournament:
• If 64 players enter a tennis tournament• How many matches must be played to determine the winner?
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Idealized Design: An Example
• Planning backwards from where one wants to be simplifies planning• Consider a tennis tournament:
• If 64 players enter a tennis tournament• How many matches must be played to determine the winner?
• 32: 1st round• 16: 2nd round• 8: 3rd round • 4: Quarter finals• 2: Semi final• 1: final• 63 games
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Idealized Design: An Example
• Planning backwards from where one wants to be simplifies planning• Consider a tennis tournament:
• If 64 players enter a tennis tournament• How many matches must be played to determine the winner?
• How many losers would there have to be?• 63.
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Idealized Design: An Example
• A more complicated example• Consider a tournament:
• If 97 players enter a tennis tournament• How many matches must be played to determine the winner?
• How many losers would there have to be?• 96.
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Problem: Reading Books
• Primary School – low income area• Illiteracy problem• Programs developed failed
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Problem: Reading Books
• Primary School – low income area• Illiteracy problem• Programs developed failed• Parents do not read, so the children follow their parents
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Solution: Reading Books
• Introduced silent movies• Movies the kids love
• No sound, subtitles• Promoted reading
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Problem: A Fish Story
• Frozen fish – new product• The company has its own fleet• Own chain fish markets
• Installed freezing and packaging at its dockside plants
• Vigorous marketing
• Sales was high initially but then dropped off sharply
• Research showed the taste was not as good as fresh fish
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Problem: A Fish Story
• Chemists went to work• Blamed chemical changes after fish is caught• Recommended fish to be frozen on board• Or fish to be kept alive until they are brought back
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Problem: A Fish Story
• Chemists went to work• Blamed chemical changes after fish is caught• Recommended fish to be frozen on board• Or fish to be kept alive until they are brought back
• Installed pools on the boats with fish nets• Again, the initial trial sales numbers were high but dropped off sharply after a
while
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Problem: A Fish Story
• More research has been done• Found out that inactivity in fish caused again a chemical reaction that affected
the taste• Installed bigger pools with lots of space• But no movement
• What would we do?
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Solution: A Fish Story
A predator was put in the pool
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Problem: For Whom The Bridge Tolls
• The Port Authority has been reducing rates
• This resulted in increased traffic and congestion
• City complained• PA, does not want to increase
tolls• Most cars coming into the city
has 1 or 2 passengers• What would we do?
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Problem: For Whom The Bridge Tolls
Express Lanes with no tolls
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Problem: Dishwasher
• A major house appliances company in the mid-50’s
• Through research they find that the housework that makes everybody unhappy the most is the dishwashing
• So, they bring out a dishwasher
• But the sales are not good
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Solution: Dishwasher
Installed trays
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Problem: Banking
• A projection of paper work performed by Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in 70’s
• At the time, cheques were used heavily
• It was determined that by 2000, the amount of space is not going to be enough to do the amount of work
• More than all of Cleveland
• What would we do?
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Solution: Banking
EFT
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Problem: The Smart Donkey
• Mexico, university academics• Working with “backward”
farmers• Trying to improve themselves
and their lot• Irrigate the fields by digging
ditches• They needed to determine the
level paths over the hilly fields
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Solution: The Smart Donkey
There is a lot of wisdom in the old ways, do not be too quick to dismiss it