Problem Solving in Action

The following pages explain the problem-solving process using an example that began with students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their solution to a real-world problem is now making a huge difference for many of the world’s poor.

Analyze the Problem

The first step in the problem-solving process is to understand and analyze the problem. Use one or more of the thinking techniques that you learned in chapters 2 and 3 of this book:

Real-World Example

Around the world, millions of people live in slums, in shacks that are so tightly crammed that no light can enter the living spaces. For most of these homes, electricity and fuel for fires is unavailable. Millions of people spend their days and nights in darkness. A group of MIT students decided to do something about the situation. They began by analyzing the problem.

Tracing Causes and Effects

 

Imagine and Plan Solutions

After thoroughly analyzing a problem, you need to brainstorm and plan solutions. Use one or more of the thinking strategies you learned in chapters 2 and 3:

Real-World Brainstorming

After thoroughly analyzing the causes and effects of the dark dwellings of the world’s poor, the MIT students started brainstorming solutions. One way to do this is to create a cluster, writing down as many ideas as possible without judging them.

 

Real-World Planning

The students at MIT decided to work on an inexpensive solar light bulb made from readily available materials. They designed and prototyped their ideas, testing to find the best solution.

Create and Evaluate the Solution

Once you have planned a solution, you need to launch into creating and evaluating the solution. Use one or more of the strategies that you learned in chapters 2 and 3.

Real-World Creating

After the MIT students tested many possible designs, they settled on a simple structure built from a discarded liter soda bottle, water, chlorine, and a piece of flashing (sheet metal).

Real-World Evaluating

The bulb inventions worked well, but there is always room for improvement. A trait evaluation can pinpoint ways in which the design is working well and ways in which it could work better.

Trait Evaluation: Solar Bottle Bulbs

Improve and Implement the Solution

After evaluating the solution, it’s time to make changes that improve it and then to implement the solution in its real-world context. Use one or more of these strategies from chapters 2 and 3.

Real-World Improving and Implementing

The team found the exact right amount of bleach to use to keep the bottle lights shining for years. They also discovered that some plastic bottles crumpled too easily or didn’t hold up to the weather. They made many adjustments to increase the light yield, decrease the expense, make implementation easier, and maximize the longevity of the design. In addition to making physical improvements in their design, the students partnered with an organization called “Isang Litrong Liwanag,” which is Filipino for “A Liter of Light.” (Go to aliteroflight.org to learn how you can help.)