Problem Solving
What problem solving is, the five-step process behind it, the skills it draws on, and the techniques that make it work — with worked examples and a free reasoning test to measure the thinking underneath.
Problem solving is the process of moving from an unwanted situation to a better one — by understanding the problem, finding its cause, generating options and acting on the best. It blends analysis, creativity and judgement, and it improves dramatically when you follow a clear process instead of jumping to the first fix.
The five-step problem-solving process
Almost every named method is a variation on these five steps:
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1. Define | State the problem clearly and specifically — what exactly is wrong, for whom, and how you would know it is solved. A vague problem cannot be solved well. |
| 2. Analyse | Break it down and find the root cause, not just the symptom. Gather the facts and separate what you know from what you assume. |
| 3. Generate | Produce several possible solutions before judging any. Quantity first — the obvious fix is rarely the best one. |
| 4. Decide & act | Weigh the options against clear criteria, choose, and implement. A decision not acted on solves nothing. |
| 5. Review | Check whether the result matched the prediction. If not, feed what you learned back into the process. |
The skills problem solving draws on
| Skill | Its role |
|---|---|
| Analysis | Breaking a problem into parts and finding the cause. |
| Critical thinking | Testing assumptions and weighing evidence. |
| Creativity | Generating options the obvious approach misses. |
| Decision-making | Choosing well under uncertainty and trade-offs. |
| Persistence | Staying with a hard problem and adapting when a fix fails. |
Techniques that make it work
Within the process, specific techniques do the heavy lifting — the 5 Whys for finding a root cause, fishbone diagrams for mapping many possible causes, brainstorming for generating options, and the team-based 8D method for serious, recurring problems. See the full list on problem-solving techniques and the structured 8D method.
How to get better at problem solving
Use an explicit process, find the real cause before solving, generate more than one option, and review what happened. The reasoning underneath — testing assumptions, drawing valid conclusions — is exactly what the critical thinking test and logical reasoning test measure. See it all applied in our worked problem-solving examples.
Frequently asked questions
What is problem solving?
Problem solving is the process of moving from an unwanted situation to a desired one by understanding the problem, finding its cause, generating options and acting on the best one. It combines analysis, creativity and judgement — and improves with a clear process.
What are the steps of problem solving?
A reliable five-step process: 1) define the problem clearly, 2) analyse it and find the root cause, 3) generate possible solutions, 4) decide and implement, 5) review the result. Most named methods are variations on these steps.
What skills does problem solving need?
Analysis (breaking a problem down), critical thinking (testing assumptions and evidence), creativity (generating options), decision-making (choosing well under uncertainty) and persistence. You can measure the reasoning underneath with the critical thinking and logical reasoning tests.
How can I improve my problem solving?
Use an explicit process rather than jumping to the first fix, find the real cause before solving (try the 5 Whys), generate several options, and review what happened. Practising structured reasoning sharpens the core skill.