The document discusses the six step problem solving process that the author learned about in their professional communications class. The six steps are: 1) define the problem, 2) examine the problem, 3) develop criteria for solutions, 4) brainstorm solutions, 5) assess solutions, and 6) determine the best solution. An example of using these steps to solve the problem of an art club needing funds is provided to illustrate the process. The author concludes that this process can be used to solve problems in school, work, and personal life.

1. Problem Solving
Process
Quarter 2 Reflections
Sadhvi Darisipudi Professional
Communications 4A 11/24/13

2. What did I learn?




I learned about the Problem Solving Process this
quarter.
The Problem Solving Process is a six-step process
that can be used to solve everyday problems.
It provides a method/technique that one can use to
solve any problems, complex or simple.
I chose to do my Quarter Reflections on this topic
because I felt like it would be something that I could
use for the rest of my life, starting now.

3. Step 1: Define the Problem
 What
is the problem? What is it that you must
solve?
 This is a very easy step in the Problem
Solving Process.
 You simply state the problem or what you
need to fix/do.

4. Example of Step 1

The Problem: My club (the
art club) needs a way to
raise money so that we
can have enough money
to buy supplies for our
upcoming project (painting
a mural).

5. Step 2: Examine the Problem
 Why
is this problem occurring?
 Why am I not able to solve this problem
easily?
 In this part of the Problem Solving Process,
you must describe the root of the problem
and why this is a problem that you must
solve.

6. Example of Step 2


This problem is occurring
because our art club recently
spent all of our funds on a party
and now we do not have money
to buy materials for the mural.
I am not able to easily solve this
problem because the easy
solution would have been using
our funds, but we do not have
any.

7. Step 3: Develop a set of criteria to
evaluate possible solutions
 What
must the solution achieve? What must
the solution be able to do?
 What are some things the solution cannot
do? What is something it cannot be?
 In this part of the Problem Solving Process,
you must create a list of things your solution
can and cannot be. This list will be used later
on to evaluate solutions.

8. Example of Step 3
 Things
the solution must do:
- Must be a way to raise money
for my club
- Must be practical
 Things the solution cannot be:
- It cannot be illegal/ unethical
- I cannot rely on the club fund

9. Step 4: Brainstorm all the
Potential Alternative Solutions
 What
are possible solutions to the problem?
Brainstorm a list.
 In this step of the Problem Solving Process,
you must think of solutions to the problem.
You do not necessarily have to use these
solutions, they are just ideas.

10. Example of Step 4

-
-
-
-
Possible solutions to raise money:
Hold a bake sale/ lemonade stand at
school
Sell all of the club members’ siblings
Sell paintings made from the very
little supplies we have left
Hold a gun up to a stranger and
demand money
Act like a hobo and beg for money

11. Step 5: Assess all listed
solutions




What are the pros or upsides of the listed solutions?
What are the cons or downsides of the listed
solutions?
Assessing the listed solutions helps narrow the
choices you have and will ultimately help find the
ideal solution. It will help you see the pros and cons
of each possible solution.
You can assess the possible solutions using the
criteria developed in Step 3.

12. Example of Step 5
I
cannot sell the club members
siblings or demand money at
gunpoint because that is illegal.
 I cannot act like a hobo because that
is probably also illegal and is not
practical.
 This leaves holding a bake sale/
lemonade stand, or selling paintings
made from the very little supplies we
have left.

13. Example of Step 5 (cont.)

-

-
-
Pros and Cons of bake
sale/lemonade stand:
We would have to ask for
donations from the club members
in order to have baked good or
lemonade to sell.
These types of sales at school
tend to make lots of money.
Pros and Cons of selling paintings
The paintings may not be good
because we do not have many
supplies left
We do not have to ask for
donations from the club members.

14. Step 6: Determine the Best
Solution
 Which
is the best solution of the listed ones?
 Why is it the best? What makes it the best?
 In this step of the Problem Solving Process,
you must choose a solution to the problem. It
is important to understand why it is the best
solution because you can then understand
why the other ones were bad and this
knowledge can be used when you must
resolve similar problems.

15. Example of Step 6


I think that the best solution to this
problem is holding a bake sale or
lemonade stand at school.
I say this because these methods
have proven to raise a lot of money
in the past and selling paintings is a
new concept, so I cannot be sure
that we will be able to make enough
money.

16. Why did I learn it?
I
learned this because it is something that I
will always need, both now and in the future.
 I learned this so that I can better the methods
that I already use to solve everyday
problems.
 I learned this so that I can improve myself
and become a better problem-solver.

17. What can I do with what I
learned?
 This
information will come very useful in the
future.
 I will be able to use this techniques during my
time at school, at work, in my personal life,
etc.
 The Problem Solving Process gives me an
organized method to solve any problems
which I will be able to use for the rest of my
life.

18. Works Cited


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Art Club. Digital image. Gallatin High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
<http://gallatin.k12.mo.us/highschool/organizations/fbla/fblacontest/Art%20Club/Untitled1.png>.
Bake Sale. Digital image. E-Patches and Crests. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
<https://www.e-patchesandcrests.com/catalogue/patches/fundraising/S772_bakesale.jpg>.
Cartoon Character Painting Blank Slate. Digital image. Clker. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov.
2013. <http://www.clker.com/cliparts/V/s/K/O/Y/p/cartoon-character-painting-blank-slatemd.png>.
Chocolate Chip Cookies. Digital image. Becky Bakes. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.beckybakes.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DSC_0004-3-500x500.jpg>.
Lemonade. Digital image. Timesunion.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
<http://blog.timesunion.com/payitforward/files/2011/08/lemonade1.jpg>.
Money. Digital image. Freelance-Zone. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://freelancezone.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/money.jpg>.
Paint Cans and Brush. Digital image. Jones Painting. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.wjonespainting.com/Paint_Cans_3.gif>.
"Problem Solving Process & Steps." Problem Solving Steps & Process. N.p., n.d. Web. 24
Nov. 2013. <http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/problem-solving/overview/overview.html>.
Problem Solving Process. N.p.: n.p., n.d. PDF.
<http://ese.escambia.k12.fl.us/eval/psych/IST/Section%201-3%20Problem
%20Solving.pdf>.