4 Ways to Solve a Problem

An apocryphal story:

A man you know is hungry.

There are 4 ways you could solve his problem:

1. Slap him about a bit. This will take his mind of it.  Hunger gone, problem solved.
2. Give him a fish to eat.  Hunger gone, problem solved.
3. Give him a fishing rod and show them how to fish.  Hunger gone, problem solved.
4. Develop a first-world infrastructure with trawlers, freezers, distribution centres, corner stores and fish fingers.  Hunger gone, problem solved.

I’d love to claim credit for this line of thinking

But it came from a gentleman called Russell Ackoff. He called the 4 methods

• Absolve
• Resolve
• Solve
• Dissolve

His point was that the further you take your problem solving, the more likely you will make the problem go away for ever.

There is an extra twist:

Absolving and Resolving don’t count as solving the problem. I’m sure you would agree.

Solving, though valid, involves current knowledge.  If there is a known solution you shouldn’t have to waste your time on it.

As a manager — a paid problem solver — only Dissolving problems is a worthwhile use of your time.

How did you spend your time today?