Problem Solving Process, a reference

Discussion in 'General Archive' started by Darwarren, Nov 22, 2015.

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  1. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    The forum spends a great deal of time discussing problems. Many offer solutions.
    Some posts are language-based, some math based, some use both. There are as many styles of posts as there are members of the forum. Rhetoric and other persuasive techniques often cloud the issues. Debates result. Rants are more emotion than substance.

    There are a number of effective models for problem solving. Since many of us are looking for solutions to situations, here is a road map from the Military Problem Solving Process:

    #1 PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
    1. Recognize And Define The Problem
    2. Gather Facts And Make Assumptions
    3. Define End States And Establish Criteria
    4. Develop Possible Solutions
    5. Analyze And Compare Possible Solutions
    6. Select And Implement Solution
    7. Analyze Solution For Effectiveness

    #2 FACTS & ASSUMPTIONS
    Facts- Statements about the problem known to be true or there is positive proof.
    Assumptions- Statement used to replace necessary but missing or unknown facts.

    #3 DEFINE END STATE AND ESTABLISH CRITERIA

    End States identify goals and objectives
    Criteria
    Selection- used to gather valid solution
    Evaluation- used to compare solutions

    #4 DEVELOP POSSIBLE
    SOLUTIONS

    Brain Storming
    Mind Mapping

    #5 ANALYZE AND COMPARE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
    Use predetermined evaluation criteria
    Go back to "Facts and Assumptions" or "Establish Criteria" if necessary

    #6 SELECT AND IMPLEMENT THE BEST SOLUTION
    Make the decision
    Acceptable, Feasible, and Suitable

    #7 ANALYZE SOLUTION FOR EFFECTIVENESS
    May take time

    ROAD BLOCKS TO
    PROBLEM SOLVING

    Fear Of Failure
    Tunnel Vision
    Over Seriousness
    Over Certainty
    Binding Customs
    Fear Of The Unknown
    Command Pressure

    ROAD BLOCKS TO PROBLEM SOLVING (cont.)
    FAILURE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
    FAILURE TO TALK WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM
    LACK OF ADEQUATE INFORMATION TO MAKE VALID ASSUMPTIONS
    NOT IDENTIFYING ALL OF THE PLAYERS
    NOT SPECIFYING THE DESIRED ENDSTATE


    If you have read this far, I hope it has been helpful.
     
  2. pydragons

    pydragons Padavan

    This techniques apply only for certain people. Some people simply cant operate with them.
    This also applies for DSO's lead designer. I pride myself with being able to look through people, this is not uncommon in a human population.
    I clearly see the capacity of DSO's lead designer when he gives youtube interviews. He is just an ordinary guy with ordinary ideas. Leading is not his strength as t's shown by his game. There are too many ordinary and basic ideas, quickly sketched and thrown into production without thinking about past and future experiences of similar ideas from elsewhere. The lack of creativity is obvious.

    In order to create something different, you must be different. Ordinary people think in ordinary way. Many people wont understand me, but this is because they are many. Evolution favors the one thing that works. Any other mutations are uncommon until shown it's working better.
     
  3. sebastian_fl

    sebastian_fl Count Count

    Sounds over complicated for me. I would stick to common sense and some of the Agile problem solving and root cause analysis methods. Fishbone diagram/5 whys combined with the practical Toyota method for instance.
     
  4. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    Your favorites are next generation results of the basic problem solving process. Same stuff, different package, and less theoretical.
    Experts with experience make the difficult look easy.
    Thanks for pointing a way. :)
    -----

    The famous Toyota’s practical problem-solving process is reported in the figure below:
    [​IMG]


    The Agile Approach and the 5 Whys are focused on identifying true causes of situations. It saves time by building only on relevant data.

    [​IMG]

    If you’re having trouble coming up with the possible causes, there are 7 P’s often used as categories in marketing:
    1. Product/Service
    2. Price
    3. Place
    4. Promotion
    5. People/Personnel
    6. Process
    7. Physical Evidence
     
    sebastian_fl likes this.
  5. sebastian_fl

    sebastian_fl Count Count

    One of my favorites, the famous example of 5whys, the Obelisk in Washington DC.

    Problem: One of the monuments in Washington D.C. is deteriorating.
    Why #1 – Why is the monument deteriorating?
      • Because harsh chemicals are frequently used to clean the monument.
    Why #2 – Why are harsh chemicals needed?
      • To clean off the large number of bird droppings on the monument.
    Why #3 – Why are there a large number of bird droppings on the monument?
      • Because the large population of spiders in and around the monument are a food source to the local birds
    Why #4 – Why is there a large population of spiders in and around the monument?
      • Because vast swarms of insects, on which the spiders feed, are drawn to the monument at dusk.
    Why #5 – Why are swarms of insects drawn to the monument at dusk?
      • Because the lighting of the monument in the evening attracts the local insects.
    Solution: Change how the monument is illuminated in the evening to prevent attraction of swarming insects.

    Btw, I like process models and I'm very educated in this area, was even giving lectures on the problem solving, lean, agile, Toyota production system etc few years ago. I also know quite a few of the Agile manifesto signers in person. They all seem to simplify things nowadays, transparency and simplicity are few of the key principles in everything. The Silicon Walley is pure lean and thus successful. There are lots of new solving techniques, that are easier to understand. My favorites are the 'games' from the company called Innovation Games, so you can google it. They solve business problems in a game way. For instance, one of the best prioritization methods is their Buy a Feature. One of the best retrospective methods is Remember the Future. Very nice reading if you are interested)
     
    BigPapa and Darwarren like this.
  6. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    About the lead designer:
    A few, short choreographed clips show presentation skills. Creativity could be easily masked. Originality may not even be relevant in a supervisor or administrator.
    Considering the manure storm he inherited, his short-term goal was probably stabilization, what is necessary and sufficient, rather than what is original. A pod-cast appearance could be a forced duty; I got the impression he would rather be in his office.
    There have been a number of innovations and new ways demonstrated recently. Despite the pillage and burn of 155, the game is becoming more fun for me.

    About you:
    "Some people simply cant operate with them." -- The basic technique was developed 1000's of years ago, when cave people came up with "Winter cold. Fire hot. . . Fire good in Winter."
    Looking through people is common in people who have difficulty connecting with others. Most humans use eye contact for social context, and to establish dominant and submissive roles. Maybe that's just semantics, "looking through" instead of "looking into."
    "Many people don't understand you" reminds me of a question I saw as a student on a personality disorder questionnaire.

    IMHO
     
  7. pydragons

    pydragons Padavan

    About your simple technique, the second poster said it's complex for him and he prefers other techniques.
    All I'm trying to say is that I don't see a capable man leading this game.

    Where are these innovations you are pointing to?
     
  8. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    Capable? The only ones to judge that first hand are his boss and his boss's bosses. (Which is not to say I like or approve his approach or all of the results, just that I reserve my judgement for history, however long that might be.)
    I'm sure he could justify himself very well, if he wanted a distraction.

    Innovations? Let's see.
    Dozens of new maps, dozens of new gear pieces, new gear sets. the alchemy system, elite monsters, and combinations of all that stuff. Changes in gems, crafting, mounts, costumes, companions, and emotes, too. The lag test was first time ever for serious data collection on lag and rubber banding; and there seems to have been improvements for some.
    Changes in Twitter, Facebook, even the CM posts in the Forum; which may be causation or coincidence. Achievements are relatively new.
    Some mapping, sound and lighting changes are on-going adaptations, rather than the take-it-or-leave-it of the past. Release 155 surely got a lot of attention.
    Maybe we have future shock, too much innovation at one time.

    I'm sure you can think of others, if you set your mind to it.
    We don't have 10 years for another Einstein to get his act together.
     
  9. pydragons

    pydragons Padavan

    But all of this stuff is from other games, specifically 10 year old games. We also don't know what crafting 2.0 and/or alchemy system is, so we cant really judge this systems, yet. The rest of the game is just taken ideas from old games and programmed with very old methods.
    I see evidences of the programming structure and to tell you, it's really old structure.
    So these are not really innovations, don't make me post definition links..
    Also, we are witness of very low testings before release.

    This is their first mmo of this kind, this is an excuse to some degree. But the management of the game is very bad.
     
    Troneck86 likes this.
  10. sebastian_fl

    sebastian_fl Count Count

    [​IMG]
     
    Darwarren likes this.
  11. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    IMHO management was terrible, 3rd World caliber neglected and lacking, but it is getting a little better.

    It's still no where close to American standards, which is why I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of California. The BBB has closed the issue, and I remain a dissatisfied customer.
    When and if I get more time, I'll file a complaint with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency. DSO really isn't worth the effort, but it would be more fun than dealing with a broken company. LOL

    -- MERGED --

    ROFLMAO
    Yes, exactly so!
     
    Last edited by moderator: Nov 25, 2015
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