Problem solving is solving problem

Working as a software developer, problem solving is the fundamental skill we use day in day out. The Wikipedia provided a long list of problem solving techniques, however I am unable to find the new problem solving technique that I have learned today. This new technique is something that I have not learned or heard of before, so I am trying to figure out whether this technique is ever practice and it usefulness. The scenario where I have learned this new problem solving technique is actually not directly related to my area of job scope, but from some policy decision making from the management.

Today, my company had a meeting due to some implementation to some new policy. A benefit or entitlement (will discussed again if it should be benefit or entitlement) was removed from everyone and there was quite a bit of questioning here and there. Interestingly, when ask about the reason on why such entitlement (let just call it entitlement here first) have been removed, astonishingly the reason given was due to someone abusing this entitlement and giving problem to the people from the management.

It keeps me wondering for awhile whether this is a root cause analysis problem solving technique. Suddenly, with this new policy implemented, the problem (people abusing) are gone. Isn't it wonderful that the problem has not only been removed, but also problem related to such entitlement will never ever re-surface again!

In actual fact, the problem have been removed, however the subject have also removed totally. Don't remember ever applying such problem solving technique to my area of work. On the other hand, will such technique be really applicable in the future? Imagine, the login part of an application that you are working on, have some security loopholes. Probably, the easiest way of solving this security loophole is by removing them totally. But, things are there for a purpose and removing an object from what it is meant for need a lot of justification.

Application is developed to solve problems.... and imagine when a client coming to you and telling you all his problems, with you replying, "remove everything". Is this how thing going to work. No! Cause nothing will exist in this world, as everything will have its problem. Do not solve a problem at the convenience of removing things without any justification. Problem solving is solving problem, it is different from solving a problem by ignoring a problem and removing everything related to it totally.

Learning to swim

Recently, while having a discussion with a colleague, one of the topics touched on was about the way we learn how to swim. Using the way of learning how to swim as a metaphor on how we survive in a real world, the different approaches will often result in different outcome on every single individual’s survival skill.

The two common approaches
The easy way of learning how to swim is to learn from the shallow end of the pool where the swimmer will always be able to touch the floor of the pool. This way, it allows the swimmer to stand and walk when he can’t cope with the swim. On the other hand, the hard way of learning is to learn from the deep end of the pool where the swimmer either swim or drown.

The resulting outcome
With the easy way, swimmers do not have to try as hard, as they can give up easily by taking a rest by standing on the pool. Their determination will not be as strong and they might find it hard to survive when met with the slightest challenge in life. This learning process will also take longer usually. With the hard way, a swimmer will either survive or drown. The swimmer will be struggling throughout the learning process, and probably learning to swim within a shorter time. Any swimmer that survives this learning process will usually be able to take up similar challenge easily in life and have a stronger determination.

Which is a better way and more significant to an organization?
From the above, it seems pretty obvious that the hard way of learning to swim is the best way. But how does this really relate into the real world and within an organization? How often does an organization required the people within the organization to only possess the basic survival skill? Yes, survival skill is probably the basic pre-requisite; however this will most likely put an organization also on the survival line too if all their human resources consist of people with surviving skill.

The ability to excel rather than just the skill to survive should be more significant to an organization that wants to excel. Anyone who joins the working life should have acquired the survival skill in the early years (during the school day). Organization with people that excel will be the companies that make the leap. People with the skill to survive should be easily available, however people that excel will always be in demand. All the people that excel should have been thru the surviving stage in life. So how did these people progress?

How to bring the best out of everyone
Will a swimmer be able to excel by his/her own without any coach or guidance and how does a person move from the ability to swim to excelling it? All professional swimmers have coach with proper training method, process. The coach will be there to coach and provide the necessary guidance for the swimmer, highlighting to the swimmer if his/her technique is incorrect or analyzing on how to help the swimmer to excel in the swim. People that excel also have a passion with what they do. Since finding people that excel is hard, why don’t you train people to excel?