Simple problems can often be remedied with simple solutions; however, complex problems need to be remedied in a different manner. This paper discusses the traditional problem solving approach and then applies holistic thinking to introduce a modified problem solving methodology for remedying complex problems. The paper uses urban traffic congestion as an example of a complex problem and explores the development of a mixture of partial solutions that remedy different contributors to the problem in an interdependent manner.

1. Temasek Defence SystemsInstitute
Temasek Defence Systems Institute
Complex solutions for complex
problems
The Third International Symposium on Engineering
Systems
June 18-20 2012
Delft, The Netherlands
Dr Joseph E. Kasser, DSc, CEng, FIET, CM, CMALT
Visiting Associate Professor, TDSI
National University of Singapore, Block E1, #05-05
1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576
Email tdskj@nus.edu.sg
Handphone +65 9776 7464, Skype: Prof_G3ZCZ
Web page http://www.therightrequirement.com
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Topics
• Problems and problem solving
• Classification of problems
• Problem classification matrix
• Solving non-complex problems
• Solving complex problems
• Systems approach
• Questions and discussion
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Problems and problem solving
Converts
Undesirable situation
To
Desirable situation 3

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Temasek Defence Systems Institute
Classification of problems
• Level of difficulty of the problem
• Research and intervention problems
• Structure of the problem
• Complexity of the problem
• Others
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Temasek Defence Systems Institute
Levels of difficulty
• Easy - can be solved in a short time with very little thought.
• Medium - can be solved after some thought, may take a few
more steps to solve than an easy problem and can probably be
solved without too much difficulty, perhaps after some
practice.
• Ugly - will take a while to solve. Solving them involves a lot
of thought, many steps and may require the use of several
different concepts.
• Hard - usually involve dealing with one or more unknowns.
Solving them involves a lot of thought and some research and
may also require iteration through the problem solving process
as learning takes place 5

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Research problems
• The undesirable situation is the inability to explain
observations of phenomena or the need for some
particular knowledge. In this situation:
– the solution is the knowledge often in the form of the
supported hypothesis,
– the problem is how to gain the needed knowledge, and
– the problem solving process is commonly known as
the scientific method, and works forwards
• from the current situation towards a future changed situation in
which the knowledge has been acquired.
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Intervention problems
• The undesirable situation is when something needs to be
changed over a period of time into a feasible conceptual
future desired situation (FCFDS). In this situation:
– the solution is the FCFDS,
– the problem is how to realize a smooth and timely transition from the current
situation to the FCFDS, and
– the problem solving process first uses the research problem solving process
working forwards, selects the best one, and then works backwards to the
current problematic situation to document:
• the FCFDS, and
• the realization plans documented as a forward process starting from the
current situation and ending with the deployment of the FCFDS.
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Structure of the problem
• Well-structured
– the existing undesired situation and the desired future
situation are clearly identified.
– may have a single solution or sometimes more than one
correct solution.
• Ill-structured
– either or both the existing undesired situation and the
desired future situation are unclear
• Wicked
– extremely ill-structured problems
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Complexity of the problem
• Number of issues, functions, or variables
involved in the problem;
• Degree of connectivity among those
variables;
• Type of functional relationships among
those properties;
• Stability among the properties of the
problem over time
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Problem classification matrix
Wicked Here be dragons
Ill-structured (there are no solutions)
Well-
structured Simple Complicated
Non-complex
Easy Medium Ugly Hard
Level of difficulty
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Solving non-complex problems
• Easy well-structured problems
– Simple problems requiring little if any research before creating the
solution.
• Medium well-structured problems
– Less simple requiring some research before creating the solution.
• Ugly well-structured problems
– Complicated yet require little if any research before creating the
solution.
• Hard well-structured non-complex problems
– Complicated and require research before creating the solution.
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Solving complex problems-1
• Well-structured complex problems
– consist of a set of interconnected well-structured non-complex
problems
– the remedy to one may affect another, these problems cannot be
solved in one pass thorough the problem solving process.
– must remedied by evolving a solution using multiple passes of the
problem solving process where each iteration produces a better
(less undesirable) situation.
– one party’s remedy may be another party’s undesirable situation
and foster further change.
• Makes it more complicated
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Solving complex problems-2
• Ill-structured complex problems.
– These problems cannot be solved.
– They need to be converted to well-structured problems
before attempting to provide solutions.
– Different people convert ill-structured problems into
different and sometimes contradictory well-structured
problems and which would generate different and
sometimes contradictory solutions.
• Wicked Problems.
– The fundamental paradox with respect to Wicked
Problems is that there are no such problems. 13

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Systems approach to dealing with
problems
8 Descriptive STPs*
Observe
and think
Scientific STP*
Research
Formulate
hypothesis
Test
Refuted
hypothesis
Supported
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* Kasser and Mackley, 2008

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Remedying complex problems
1. Convert the ill-structured complex problem to a well-
structured problem.
2. Convert the well-structured complex problem to a set of
well-structured non-complex problems that provide partial
solutions to the complex problem.
3. Realize a partial solution to the complex problem by
remedying one or more of the non-complex problems.
4. Reexamine the undesirability of the changed situation.
5. Go back to step 1.
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Summary
• Problems and problem solving
• Classification of problems
• Problem classification matrix
• Solving non-complex problems
• Solving complex problems
• Systems approach
• Questions and discussion
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Questions
or
comments
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