The Organic Problem-Solving Technique.

 

We say ‘’garbage in garbage out’’. The quality of input determines the quality of output is a universally accepted phenomenon of life. That is why when we are briefed on a project, we go beyond its given dimensions. Critical thinking becomes the best tool for us to get our perspectives right.

 

The fundamental premise in critical thinking is to accept that ‘’the whole world is imperfect’’. If the whole world is imperfect, then ‘’I am also imperfect, and others are also the way I am’’. This makes allowance for not taking things at their face value. There is a simple principle behind it which everyone needs to understand before embarking on any thought process to provide a solution. 

 

It goes like this ‘’Don’t think all those others say are right, and don’t think all that I think about others are right’’. Through this, we make allowance for the flaws that help us absorb only the right message that the person wants to convey and not all that the person says. But we need to understand that our potential as human beings to do it with perfection is infinite. The process of filtering the critical input for our thought process - Positive Information Vetting Technique (PIVT) - can be condensed in the following formula:

 

Communicated Information – Irrelevant/Less Relevant Information = The Critical Input

 

Once we understand the basic premise of the critical thinking process, we have to start practising it systematically. Here are some steps that we follow while developing our solutions or concepts.

COGNITION is the first step in this process, allowing us to create links between our ideas and the brand's requirements. Following this thought generation process, do a first level of vetting through a primary EVALUATION before proceeding further. Of course, at the next level, we have to recognize the positive areas and start the EVOLUTION of our ideas into a logical system. Soon after this, bring in one more CORRECTION filter to identify and plug inconsistencies of reasoning. Now do the SYSTAMATIZATION exercise by knitting our ideas into a logically cohesive system that justifies the ‘Critical Input’. Your solution is not yet ready until you do a final REFLECTION by looking at the justification of one’s assumptions, beliefs and values. On clearing this hurdle, your SOLUTION is prepared to be served.

 

Every problem is waiting for a solution; just go for it!