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.
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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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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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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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