ACTIVITY 1 : LEARNING SKILLS 2

SUBMITTED BY : ARHA C. MANGIO

A formal problem typically refers to a well-defined issue or challenge that can be systematically analyzed
and solved using specific methodologies or frameworks. It often involves clearly stated objectives,
constraints, and criteria for success. In various fields, such as mathematics, computer science, or
engineering, formal problems are characterized by their structured nature, allowing for precise
formulation and the application of logical reasoning or algorithms to find solutions.

Key components of a formal problem include:

1. Definition: Clear statement of the problem.

2. Parameters: Variables and constraints that define the limits of the problem.

3. Goal: The desired outcome or solution.

4. Methodology: The approach or methods used to analyze and solve the problem.

Understanding a formal problem is essential for effective problem-solving and decision-making

Definition of a Formal Problem:

Problem-solving involves transitioning from an initial state to a desired goal state. It's the process of
designing and executing a series of steps to achieve that goal. A "problem" is typically defined as a
situation where the path to the goal isn't immediately clear. The same situation might be a problem for
one person but a simple task for another, depending on their experience and knowledge.

7 Step Method To Solve And Deal Effectively With Any Problem Step 1: Define the problem clearly.

- What exactly is the problem?

- Get the real facts (not just apparent facts). (Wasting time on a misunderstood problem is inefficient.)

Step 2: What are all the possible causes of this problem?

- How and why did it happen? (Identifying the cause may solve the problem.)

- The better the quality of your analysis of the causes, the better your chances of finding a solution.

Step 3: What are all the possible solutions?

- The more possible solutions you brainstorm, the more likely you are to find an ideal solution.

Step 4: Make a decision.

- Any decision is usually better than no decision.- 80% of problems should be solved immediately, while
only 20% require extra time, deliberation, and research.
Step 5: Assign responsibility for carrying out the decision.

- Who is going to do what, when, and to what standard?

Step 6: Set a schedule of reporting and a standard to measure whether or not the decision has been
successful.

- A solution without a standard or deadline is not a solution; it's merely a discussion.

Step 7: Task yourself or someone else with taking definite action to implement the solution and resolve
the problem.

- Action is EVERYTHING.

- The more you focus on solutions, the smarter you become, and the better solutions you can come up
with.

Here is a formal definition of the term problem. You (personally) have a problem if the following four
conditions are satisfied:

1.) You have a clearly defined given initial situation.

2.) You have a clearly defined goal (a desired end situation). Some writers talk about having multiple
goals in a problem. However, such a multiple goal situation can be broken down into a number of single
goal problems.

3.) You have a clearly defined set of resources that may be applicable in helping you move from the given
initial situation to the desired goal situation. There may be specified limitations on resources, such as
rules, regulations, and guidelines for what you are allowed to do in attempting to solve a particular
problem.

4.) You have some ownership—you are committed to using some of your own resources, such as your
knowledge, skills, time, money, and so on to achieve the desired final goal.

The four components of a well-defined problem are summarized as "givens, goal, resources, and
ownership". If any of these are missing, the problem is ill-defined (a situation, not a problem). A key
aspect of problem-solving is recognizing ill-defined problems and transforming them into well-defined
ones.

The text points out that the definition of a problem doesn't indicate its difficulty. The same problem
might be easy for one person and difficult for another. Furthermore, education and experience can
transform a difficult problem into an easy one, to the point where it's no longer considered a problem at
all.

The text emphasizes that through study, practice, and access to the right tools, expertise in solving
specific types of problems can be increased. It states that the purpose of both formal and informal
education is to build expertise in various problem-solving areas.
Problems don't exist in the abstract; they only exist when someone "owns" them. This owner can be an
individual, a group (like a class of students), or an organization. Even in cases where ownership is
assigned (e.g., an employee assigned a problem by their supervisor), the individual accepts that
ownership and is expected to act accordingly.

For the most part, we want students to accept ownership of their overall problem of obtaining a good
education. This works well for some students, but it is certainly not uniformly successful. Teachers,
parents, and others expend considerable efforts in trying to get students to have ownership of their
education.

Dealing With Problem Situations

Many things called problems are actually ill-defined situations because one or more of the four
necessary components of a well-defined problem are missing. The example given is a news report
presenting homelessness and starvation as problems, but the text questions whether these are truly
well-defined problems from the viewer's perspective.

Ask yourself when defining a problem:

1. Is there a clearly defined initial situation? Do you know the facts, and can you verify them from
reliable sources?

2. Is there a clearly defined goal? Is it clear what you want to achieve? Are there multiple possible goals,
and which seem most feasible? Will you be able to tell if the chosen goal is achieved?

3. Do you know what resources are available to help achieve the goal? Are there rules, regulations, or
guidelines to consider?

4. Do you have ownership—do you care enough to devote your own resources (time, money, mental and
physical energy) to achieving the goal?

If you answer "yes" to all four previous questions, you have a formally defined problem. If you answer
"no" to one or more (especially the ownership question), you should clarify the problem situation, define
the givens and goal, seek resources, and commit your own resources before attempting to solve it.

Finally, you need to know that just because you have a clearly defined problem does not mean that you
(or indeed, anyone else) can solve it. Many problems have no solution.

A clear definition of a problem is a starting point for attempting to solve a problem. Often the process of
attempting to solve a problem leads to posing a new, related problem that better fits your knowledge
and skills, resources, and level of commitment.

It's easy to find clearly defined problems with no solution, exactly one solution, or multiple solutions.
Therefore, when facing a clearly defined problem, consider that it might have no solution, one solution,
or more than one solution.

Problem-solving often involves situations with multiple "good" solutions, not just one "best" solution.
The example of choosing work clothes illustrates this: while mismatched socks or a stained shirt are
usually bad choices, they might be acceptable on a "freaky Friday." This raises the question of whether
there's always a single "best" solution in real-world problems, like raising a child or teaching reading.