Problem-Solving Skills Subject Introduction To Economic Mathematics.pdf

- Problem solving is the process of understanding, identifying, and finding solutions to a difficult, problematic, or challenging situation we are facing.. Problem solving requires patie

Faculty of Economic Mathematics

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Subject:

Introduction to Economic Mathematics

Instructors:

Trần Việt Thắng

Members: Group 2

1 The Problem? 4

1.1 What is the Problem Solving? 4

1.2 Why was the problem not resolved? 4

1.3 The importance of problem solving skills: 6

2 Problem-solving skills 6

3 Steps to solve a problem 7

4 Problem solving strategies 7

step 1: Accept the work 8

step 2: Identify and analyze the problem 8

step 3: Set the target 8

step 4: Solution evaluation 9

step 5: Choose the best solutions 9

step 6: Perform 9

step 7: Result evaluation 9

5 Applications 9

6 Tips to improve your problem-solving skills 12

SUMMARY 12

1 The Problem?

Concept: “Problems are described as uncertain or confusing situations, something that

is difficult to control and disrupt the normal progression often, a puzzle or a mystery, a

quest the case is difficult to enforce.”

► The problem can also be seen as the gap between REALITY and our

EXPECTATIONS in the future

1.1 What is the Problem Solving?

- Problem solving is the process of understanding, identifying, and finding solutions

to a difficult, problematic, or challenging situation we are facing This is a creative

process and requires thinking, analytical ability and patience

→ This process can take place in many areas of life, from work, study, family to social

and environmental issues Problem solving requires patience, flexibility and creativity

to achieve the best results

1.2 Why was the problem not resolved?

- We often tend to solve problems ineffectively because it is very difficult

 Many subjective and objective reasons:

 There is no method that can only solve the problem randomly:

+ Human psychology tends to suggest a random solution based on experience, and

sometimes this solution is not suitable for complex problems

Example: Your child has a stomachache, the root cause is anxiety about the exam

According to experience, if you give digestive medicine, the medicine will not be

effective

 Existing and ineffective

 Lack of commitment in solving problems: We often have a disdainful attitude and

ignore small, personal problems No motivation, find reasons to delay the

resolution Only when the problem has serious consequences will people pay

attention; and usually we have to deal with it urgently We barely have enough time

right now Easy to make hasty, impulsive decisions to solve problems

*** HASTE MAKES WASTE

 Not being able to see the connection between small parts is a problem: In short we

see that the problem has been solved, but in the long run we will see that problem

not really resolved at the root

 Lack of knowledge and techniques for the problem-solving process,

misunderstanding of the problem or using the wrong method in a certain problem

are also factors that affect the results

 Insufficient or inaccurate information: Without sufficient information, it is almost

difficult for us to come up with appropriate solutions

 Inability to analyze creatively

 Beside that, there are various other factors that can contribute to this dilemma, such

as passive and helpless mindset, personal circumstances, external influences,

psychological barriers, or lack of resources

1.3 The importance of problem solving skills:

- Problem solving skills are especially important in work and life Therefore, effective

problem solving is also a requirement of today’s employers The importance of problem

solving skills includes:

 Identify challenges and opportunities

 Be calm in the face of difficulties

 Flexibly find solutions

 Choose the most suitable solution

 The necessity of problem solving skills in self-study activities Clearly understand

the problem, find many different solutions, compare and choose the best solution,

then implement and evaluate the results This skill helps us overcome difficulties

and achieve our goals confidently and effectively

2 Problem-solving skills.

Analysis: This skill helps you understand the problem and its causes, and evaluate the

possible solutions You can use research, logic, and critical thinking to analyze the

situation and find the best course of action

Communication: This skill helps you convey your ideas and information clearly and

effectively to others who are involved in the problem-solving process You can use

verbal, written, and non-verbal communication to express your thoughts, listen to

feedback, and collaborate with others

Emotional intelligence: This skill helps you manage your emotions and empathize

with others who are affected by the problem You can use self-awareness, self-regulation,

motivation, social skills, and empathy to deal with stress, conflict, and uncertainty in a

positive and constructive way

Resilience: This skill helps you cope with challenges and setbacks, and learn from your

mistakes You can use optimism, perseverance, flexibility, and adaptability to overcome

obstacles, recover from failures, and improve your performance

Creativity: This skill helps you generate new and original ideas for solving problems

You can use imagination, brainstorming, divergent thinking, and experimentation to

explore different possibilities and find innovative solutions

Adaptability: This skill helps you adjust to changing situations and expectations You

can use openness, curiosity, and willingness to learn to embrace change, accept feedback,

and modify your solutions as needed

Teamwork: This skill helps you work effectively with others who have different

perspectives and skills You can use cooperation, coordination, communication, and

conflict resolution to build trust, share responsibilities, and achieve common goals

3 Steps to solve a problem

Steps to solve a problem:

 Define the problem clearly and precisely What is the situation, issue or challenge

that you are facing? What are the goals, objectives or outcomes that you want to

achieve?

 Analyze the problem and its causes Why does the problem exist? What are the

factors or variables that contribute to the problem? How does the problem affect

you or others?

 Generate possible solutions and alternatives What are some ways to address the

problem or improve the situation? How feasible, effective and desirable are each of

these options? What are the pros and cons of each solution?

 Evaluate and select the best solution Based on your analysis and criteria, which

solution is most likely to solve the problem and meet your goals? How will you

implement the solution and measure its results? What are the potential risks or

challenges of the solution?

 Review and reflect on the outcome Did the solution work as expected? Did it solve

the problem or achieve the desired outcome? What did you learn from the process

and the outcome? How can you apply this learning to future problems?

4 Problem solving strategies.

Problem solving is a process, and most strategies will provide the stages that help you

solve the problem more effectively

 A popular method that is easy to remember and use in most cases is IDEAL

 Identify the problem.

 Define the context of the problem

 Explore possible solutions

 Act on the best solution

 Look back and learn

→ The IDEAL is the basic method and people can develop more strategies from it in

different cases

→ Example:



 One of the processes about problem solving in work.

step 1: Accept the work

step 2: Identify and analyze the problem

 Use 4W1H to have an overview and find the origin of the problem

 For example:

 What are the requirements of the boss?

 How difficult or easy is the job?

 Where can we find the resources to do this job?

 …

step 3: Set the target

 Help us go the right direction

 Ask yourself: “What do we try our best for?”

step 4: Solution evaluation

 When finding the origin of the problem, brainstorm how many solutions and then

based on the data, what the solution can we choose?

step 5: Choose the best solutions

 People should choose the solution that is possible to perform

 Ask:

 How can we do that?

 To what extent will they satisfy our targets?

 What is the cost for applying each solution?

 Which solution is better?

step 6: Perform

step 7: Result evaluation

► The 7 stages we have just listed are distributed by a method called KOALA

 K: Knowledge

 O: Objectives

 A: Alternatives

 L: Look ahead

 A: Action.

5 Applications.

Problem-solving skills are crucial in various aspects of life, including work, relationship

building, and decision-making They help identify the problem's source and find effective

solutions Related skills include active listening, analysis, research, creativity,

communication, reliability, and teamwork These skills are essential in every career and

may require technical knowledge specific to the industry People solve problems and

make decisions daily, whether at home, work, or outside Life is a series of problems that

require daily solutions

Problem 1: (Why) Tại sao sinh viên Việt Nam (Who,where) hiện nay (when) ngại chia

sẻ về vấn đề bản thân (how)?

→ Using a Ishikawa diagram (combined with 5 whys) to identify the systemic causes of

the problem

Problem Solution 1: More participation in academic activities as well as social

activities, presentations, public speeches At the same time, if you can join the

communication skills class, find the right person to be more open

Problem 2: When working in a group, we often have many different ideas and solutions

to a problem So how to find the most effective solution to that problem?

→ Using Brainstorming: The brainstorming method is used to come up with many

creative solutions to a problem, working by generating problem-focused ideas, for many

fields of education, business, advertising, management, etc…

→ To implement the brainstorming method, it is necessary to agree on how to do it in the

group For large groups of people, this regulation must be even clearer and require

compliance, such as:

 01 person (may or may not be the group leader) controls and may need 01 person to

act as secretary to record every member's ideas

 No member has the right to demand, hinder or refuse to give an idea related to the

problem the whole group is solving

 No member is allowed to evaluate, praise/criticize, criticize, add or subtract another

person's opinion

 All opinions are recorded clearly, completely and within a set time

 After that, the whole group will eliminate duplicate answers and ideas or narrow and

localize them Evaluate together to eliminate inappropriate ideas and choose better,

more feasible ideas This is the stage of group criticism

→ The brainstorming method helps the group develop many ideas, especially new,

strange ideas or combine many thoughts to come up with more effective solutions

Problem 3: Setting SMART goals in the sales department

Goal: Increase sales for product A in the third quarter of this year.

 Specific: Increase sales of product A

 Measurable: Increase sales from 100 orders/month to 150 orders/month

 Achievable: Based on the growth trend in the previous quarter, the target of

increasing 50 orders/month is feasible

 Relevant: This is a goal related to increasing sales of product A

 Time-bound: Achieve the goal in the third quarter of this year

Here are some more examples of how problem-solving skills can be used in reality:

 A software engineer who encounters a bug in their code can use problem-solving

skills to debug the code, test it, and fix it

 A customer service representative who receives a complaint from a client can use

problem-solving skills to listen to the client, understand their issue, offer a solution,

and follow up with them

 A project manager who faces a delay in their project can use problem-solving skills

to assess the situation, communicate with the stakeholders, adjust the timeline, and

allocate the resources

 A teacher who notices that some students are struggling with a lesson can use

problem-solving skills to identify the gaps in their knowledge, provide extra

support, and modify their teaching methods

 A doctor who diagnoses a patient with a rare disease can use problem-solving skills

to research the condition, consult with experts, prescribe the best treatment, and

monitor the patient's progress

 A marketer who launches a new campaign can use problem-solving skills to define

the target audience, design the strategy, measure the results, and optimize the

campaign

 A chef who runs out of an ingredient can use problem-solving skills to substitute

another ingredient, adjust the recipe, taste the dish, and serve it

 A journalist who investigates a story can use problem-solving skills to gather the

facts, verify the sources, write the article, and edit it

 Personal Finances: Problem-solving skills are valuable when managing personal

finances This could include creating a budget, finding ways to save money, or

developing a plan to pay off debts By analyzing the situation and exploring

different options, individuals can make informed decisions to improve their

quickly find an alternative route to reach your destination on time Similarly, if you

face a household problem, like a leaky faucet, you can use problem-solving skills

to identify the cause and fix it

 Decision-making: Problem-solving skills play a significant role in decision-making

processes Whether it's choosing a career path, making important life choices, or

evaluating different options, the ability to analyze the situation, consider

alternatives, and make informed decisions is crucial

6 Tips to improve your problem-solving skills.

Practice solving different kinds of problems, such as puzzles, riddles, games, or case

studies

 For example, you can try solving crossword puzzles, Sudoku, chess, or online

quizzes

Learn from others who have good problem-solving skills, such as mentors, colleagues, or

experts

 For example, you can read books or articles by successful problem-solvers, watch

TED talks or documentaries, or attend workshops or seminars

Reflect on your own problem-solving process, and identify your strengths and

weaknesses

 For example, you can keep a journal or a log of the problems you solved, the steps

you took, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes you achieved

Seek feedback from others who can help you improve your problem-solving skills, such

as supervisors, peers, or clients

 For example, you can ask for constructive criticism, suggestions, or advice on how

to solve problems more effectively or efficiently

Keep a positive attitude and a growth mindset when facing problems, and view them as

opportunities to learn and grow

Problem-solving skills are essential for any professional who wants to succeed in their

field

 For example, you can embrace challenges, learn from failures, celebrate

successes, and seek new experiences

SUMMARY

Remember, problem-solving skills are not limited to specific scenarios but can be applied

in various aspects of life By honing these skills, individuals can navigate challenges

more effectively and achieve their desired outcomes