Problem solving
“Are your lights on” is a book about understanding problems on a deeper level. It challenges our natural instincts to jump to conclusions and hastily propose solutions. We either end up solving the wrong problem, solving the right problem for the wrong audience, or crafting overly complex solutions no one wants to deal with. Taking a pause, reflecting on the problem, and asking the right questions can help us avoid these pitfalls. This book takes you on a journey with multiple practical stories to illustrate this point in an engaging manner. I highly recommend it, the content is timeless and applicable to many aspects of life.
What is a “problem”?
A problem is a difference between things as desired and things as perceived.
Most day-to-day problems can not be stated in a precise and unambiguous way. Two different people facing the same situation may actually have very different problems.
Questions to ask while solving a problem
- What is the problem?
- Who all are facing this problem?
- (For each unique answering party) - What is the essense of their problem?
- Whose problem is it to solve?
- Where is the problem coming from?
- Could the source of problem be me? perceiving a problem where there is none?
- The ultimate source may be nowhere. For e.g. make-works problems coming from breaucreacatic management.
- Is the person facing the problem really wants it to be solved?
- Can we solve a different perhaps simpler problem that will have the same effect?
- What new problems will our solution create?
Other notes
- Your first understanding of a problem is often superficial. If you can’t think of at least three things that might be wrong with your understanding of the problem, you don’t understand the problem.
- Each solution is the source of the next problem.
- Don’t solve other people’s problems if they can solve them perfectly well themselves.
- Sometimes a little reminder may be more effective than a complicated solution. (e.g. “Are your lights on?” board at the end of a dark tunnel to avoid lights being left on leading to a dead battery).
- In spite of appearances, people seldom know what they want until you give them what they ask for.