Problem Solving
Lecturer: Qubsha Munir
● Our lives are full of problems. And the biggest problem is finding
an effective solution to any problem. Seems funny, right? But it’s
true.
● Every day, from your personal to professional life, you have to deal
with different kinds of problems, and it’s not unnatural that
sometimes you struggle to solve them. Though in the end, you find
a solution, it takes too much effort and time.
Define the Problem
● This step involves understanding the problem clearly. You need to
pinpoint what exactly needs to be solved, why it's a problem, and
who or what is affected by it.
Example
● Imagine you're running late for work because you missed your
morning alarm. The problem is that you're not waking up on time,
which causes you to rush and be late.
Brainstorm Possible
Once the problem is defined, it's time to think of all possible ways to
solve it. During this phase, you don't worry about whether the ideas are
perfect or realistic yet. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible,
no matter how unconventional they might seem.
1. For the alarm problem, brainstorming solutions might include
2. Setting multiple alarms at different times.
3. Changing your alarm sound to something more jarring.
4. Placing your phone across the room so you have to physically get up
to turn it off.
5. Going to bed earlier to get enough sleep.
Evaluate the Solutions
You have a list of potential solutions, it's time to evaluate them.
Consider the pros and cons of each idea. Think about how effective,
realistic, and practical each option is. Also, consider the resources
(time, energy, money, etc.) needed for each solution.
Example:
1. Multiple alarms: Could be effective but might become annoying.
It's easy and requires no extra resources.
2. Jarring sound: Might be effective, but it could disturb others, and
it's only a short-term solution.
3. Placing phone across the room: This could work, but you need to
be disciplined enough to get out of bed.
4. Going to bed earlier: This solution requires more effort and self-
discipline but might be the most sustainable long-term.
Implement the Solution
● Once you've chosen the best solution, it's time to put it into action.
This step involves taking the necessary steps to make the solution
work in real life.
Example:
● If you decide that placing your phone across the room is the best
solution, you would start by setting your phone's alarm, placing it
far from your bed, and committing to getting up when it goes off.
Monitor and Adjust
● After implementing the solution, you need to observe how well it's
working. Are you waking up on time now?
● If the solution isn’t working as expected, you may need to adjust it
or try a different approach.
Example:
1. After a few days of placing your phone across the room, you
notice that you are still pressing snooze and falling back asleep.
2. You might adjust the solution by moving your phone even further
away or using a louder alarm sound.
● Define the Problem: You realize that you're always late to work
because you don't wake up early enough.
● Brainstorm Possible Solutions: Set multiple alarms, put your
phone across the room, use a louder alarm, go to bed earlier.
● Evaluate the Solutions: Multiple alarms might work, but it could
be annoying. Putting the phone across the room could force you to
get up, but only if you have the discipline. Going to bed earlier
requires more self-control but is a sustainable option.
● Implement the Solution: You decide to put your phone across the
room to force yourself to get up.
● Monitor and Adjust: After a week, you notice you're still pressing
snooze, so you move the phone further away from your bed. This
cycle of problem-solving can be applied to any challenge, whether
it's managing time, improving productivity, resolving conflicts, or
any other issue.
Examples
Define the Problem
● You feel overwhelmed because you can't seem to balance your time
between studying for exams and hanging out with friends or doing
other activities. This causes stress and affects your productivity.
Brainstorm Possible Solutions:
● Create a weekly schedule with dedicated study and social times.
● Limit study sessions to specific hours each day.
● Use productivity apps to track time spent on tasks.
● Delegate some tasks (like group assignments) to others.
Evaluate the Solutions:
● Creating a weekly schedule would provide structure but may feel
restrictive.
● Limiting study hours could help, but it might leave less time for
reviewing difficult subjects.
● Productivity apps could help, but using them may require some
tech setup and discipline.
● Delegating tasks might not always be possible, especially if your
classmates are also busy.
Implement the Solution
● You decide to create a weekly schedule where you allocate specific
blocks of time for studying and social activities, and use a
productivity app to help track your tasks.5
Monitor and Adjust
● After a week, you find that you're not sticking to the schedule,
especially when unexpected events come up. You adjust by being
more flexible with your study blocks and making sure to plan for
last-minute changes.
Procrastinating on
Homework
Define the Problem:
● You consistently procrastinate on assignments and homework until
the last minute, leading to stress and lower-quality work.
Brainstorm Possible Solutions:
1. Break assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. Set a timer to
work in focused bursts (e.g., Pomodoro technique).
2. Remove distractions (turn off phone, use a quiet space).
3. Set specific deadlines for each part of the assignment.
Evaluate the Solutions
● Breaking assignments into smaller tasks can make them feel less
overwhelming but might lead to too much planning and less action.
● The Pomodoro technique could help you stay focused, but it
requires consistent self-control.
● Removing distractions could improve focus but might not be
practical in shared spaces.
● Setting deadlines for each part of the assignment could help, but it
requires you to stick to the schedule.
Implement the Solution:
● You decide to break assignments into smaller tasks and set specific
deadlines for each part.
● You also try using the Pomodoro technique to help you focus.5.
Monitor and Adjust:
● After a week, you realize that breaking tasks down is helping, but
the Pomodoro timer isn’t long enough to finish certain sections.
● You adjust by increasing the focus time and taking longer breaks.
Thankyou
Any Questions???
