1. Workbook #1
SYSTEMIC AND VISUAL
TOOLS FOR PROBLEM
SOLVING

2. FIRST PART
 PROBLEM SOLVING
SV TOOLS
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3. Problem  Models FOR INFORMATION AND
solving UNDERSTANDING / to facilitate information
and understanding
SVtools  Models FOR PRACTICE / to facilitate practice and
exercises
Visual and  Models FOR APPLICATION/ to facilitate
Heuristic tools application of tools and systems to customized
study case
for Problem
solving Skills
 PS SVtools
development  Is a discovery tool which helps to analize and
visualize the problem situation from a variety of
angles and perspectives which can expand , enlarge
our vision and understanding of the nature , the
structure and the system dynamics of the problem.
 Visual thinking can facilitate and improve the
quality of analysis of the Problem Definition stage
in the Problem Solving Process.




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4. Problem
solving
SVtools
Visual and
Heuristic tools
for Problem
solving Skills
development
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5. PS SVtools
PS Mapping© Free pd
Is a discovery tool which helps
to analize and visualize the
problem situation from a variety
of angles and perspectives
which can expand , enlarge our
vision and understanding of the
nature , the structure and the
system dynamics of the Graphic
problem. pd
Visual thinking can facilitate
and improve the quality of
analysis of the Problem
Definition stage in the Problem
Solving Process. Systemic pd
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6. PS SVtools
PS SVtools© Free pd
PD = free problem
definition with your own
words
Graphic pd = problem Graphic
definition with use of pd
models
Systemic pd = Problem
definition with the use of Systemic pd
Systemic dynamics tools
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7.  The 10 systemic principles of Problem solving
Every problem interacts
with other problems 1. Every problem situation has a structure- pattern
of its elements : how they interact, influence
and is therefore part of each other.
a set of interrelated
problems, a system of 2. When the structure- pattern is clear
problems." , understandable we are facing a Tame problem.
When we are facing a problem situation with a
complex structure- pattern we are facing a
Complexity—systems of Wicked problem or ill structured problem.
systems—is among the
factors that makes some 3. Each elements has a power and energy to
influence and condition the other elements.
problem situations so There are stronger elements and weaker
resistant to analysis elements.
and, more
importantly, to 4. Each problem situation has its dynamics.
resolution."
5. Each problem situation is a system or a mess
which has its physics and chemistry.
6. We need to map the structure, its chemistry and
its dynamics , its physics in order to first
simplify the wicked problem and to identify its
pattern then to solve it.
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8. 10 systemic 7.Mapping is important for
principles of understanding and simplification.
PS
From the atom to the 8. Often the solution is in the
table Structure, Pattern or dynamics of
the problem situation.
From messes to 9. We need to identify the conflictin
solutions elements and contradictions to
solve the problem.
10.Solutions are at the level of
elements or group of elements :
how they interact with each other.
Elements, groups, subgroups.
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9. 1. Problem solving actions and performances are highly
conditioned by Creative capabilities and Innovation
skills
 Creative power : the power to dream, to think. to
conceive, to envision
 Innovative power : the power to implement new
ideas , hints
 Problem solving power : the power to solve
problems with creative and innovative ideas and
skills.
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10.  Write a description of the problem in your
Problem
own words ?
Solving
SVtools
The concept of messes :
Every problem situation
could be considered a
Mess , that is a situation
with high complexity
and
Where is the mess ?
What is the mess ?
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11.  P roblems are to reality what atoms are to
Map the tables. We experience tables, not atoms.
problem Problems are abstracted from experience by
situation mess analysis. We do not experience individual
problems but complex systems of those that
What is a mess ? are strongly interacting. I call them messes.
 Because messes are systems of
problems, they lose their essential
properties when they are taken apart.
Therefore, if a mess is disassembled, it loses
its essential properties.
 Furthermore, as in any system, if each part
taken separately is treated as well as
possible, the whole is not treated as well as
possible. A system is more than the sum of
its parts; it is the product of their
interactions. If taken apart, it simply
disappears. Then how can we formulate a
mess without taking it apart?
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12. Problem
situations
Tame problems with
structure easy to
understand
Ill – structured or
Wicked problems with
no definite formulation
or structure
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13. Is this problem a Tame problem ?
Problem Easy to describe and analize ?
situations -------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Tame problems with
-------------------------------------------------------------
structure easy to
understand Is this problem a Wicked problem ? With Complex
messes and difficult to describe and analize ?
Ill – structured or -------------------------------------------------------------
Wicked problems with -------------------------------------------------------------
no definite formulation -------------------------------------------------------------
or structure
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
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14. Structures of
problems
Levels of Structuredness
Problems could be well structured or
ill structured.
Tame problems are the most common
problems that students solve in
school,universities and training are
well structured problems. They have a
well defined initial state , a known goal
state or solution.
Ill structured problems , at the other
end of the continuum , are the kinds of
problems that are more often
encountered in everyday and
professional practice. They are also
known as Wicked problems. They do
not conform to the content domain
being studied , so their solutions is
neither predictable nor convergent. Ill
structured problems are also
interdisciplinary , that is , they cannot
be solved by applying concepts and
principles from a single discipline or
domain. Often possess aspects that are
unknown at all.
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15. Problem First Statement
messes • The problem is...
Write your first
statement of the
problem
The problem does
• effects
• effects
The problem's roots are......
• Roots
• Causes
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16. Mess
exploration
and analysis
What are the questions
that arise ?
What are your
questions ?
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17. Mess
exploration
and analysis
What are the questions
that arise ?
What are your • who originated What • When first was
questions ? • who is responsible noted
• What is the cause • When did it
of the problem develop : places
• What are the roots and events
of it
Who When
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18. Mess
exploration
and analysis
What are the questions
that arise ?
What are your • Where did it how • Why is
questions ? happen • How was important
• Places and originated • Why do you
events • How did it want to solve it
develop
Where Why
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19.  There are four ways of treating problems:
How to treat absolution, resolution, solution, and dissolution.
problem
 1. To absolve a problem is to ignore it and hope it will
situations go away or solve itself.
 2. To resolve a problem is to do something that yields
Absolution an outcome that is good enough, that satisfies.
Problem resolvers take a clinical approach to
Resolution problems; they rely heavily on experience, trial and
error, qualitative judgments, and common sense.
Solution They try to identify the cause of a problem, remove or
suppress it, and thereby return to a previous state.
Dissolution  3. To solve a problem is to do something that yields
the best possible outcome, that optimizes. Problem
solvers take a research approach to problems. They
rely heavily on experimentation and quantitative
analysis.
 4. To dissolve a problem is to eliminate it by
redesigning the system that has it. Problem dissolvers
try to idealize, to approximate an ideal system and
thereby do better in the future than the best that can
be done now.
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20. How to define
the structure
of a problem
The Waterfall Diagram
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21. Four types of
problems
Wicked
Tame
Wicked Mess
Mess
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22. Solutions
structures
Through Leadership
Through Management
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23. The Boston
Matrix
Problem definition
Problem structure
Solutions
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24. Where is your
problem
situation ?
Where
When
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25. Wicked
problems
They look difficult ,
but…….with the
proper tools we
can tame them.
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26. PROBLEM
SOLVING
SV TOOLS
END OF PART ONE
IF INTERESTED IN PART 2 AND 3
WRITE TO
FEL.LOTITO@TISCALI.IT
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