Are You a Solution Seeker or a Problem Solver?
How a simple shift in mindset could change your Engineering problem-solving skills?
NASA’s intriguing experiment with a solution-seeking and problem-solving approach offers a powerful tool that you can use to impress potential employers and enhance your engineering prowess.
The Experiment
NASA set out to explore how different mindsets impact problem-solving abilities. They divided participants into two groups:
1. Problem Solvers: This group focused on identifying and analyzing problems.
2. Solution Seekers: This group concentrated on finding creative solutions right from the start.
The Approaches
1. Problem Solvers:
• Focus: Dig deep into the issue, understand the causes, and analyze constraints.
• Method: Break down the problem, identify obstacles, and assess risks.
• Outcome: Thorough understanding of problems, leading to robust and comprehensive solutions.
2. Solution Seekers:
• Focus: Generate creative and practical solutions quickly.
• Method: Brainstorm, think outside the box, and focus on outcomes.
• Outcome: Innovative and quick solutions, though sometimes lacking in-depth analysis.
Key Findings
• Creativity: Solution Seekers often come up with more innovative solutions.
• Understanding: Problem Solvers had a deeper grasp of the issues and potential pitfalls.
• Efficiency: Solution Seekers moved faster in generating ideas.
• Practicality: Problem-solving solutions were generally more practical and easier to implement.
Featured Engineering jobs
Example
Imagine you’re working on a project to improve self-driving transportation:
• Problem Solver Approach: You start by thoroughly analyzing existing self-driving technologies. You study the causes of common failures, such as sensor errors or software glitches. By understanding these issues deeply, you develop a more reliable system that addresses all identified problems, ensuring safety and efficiency.
• Solution Seeker Approach: You begin by brainstorming new ideas, such as innovative sensor designs or advanced algorithms for decision-making. You quickly prototype and test these ideas, focusing on finding creative solutions that enhance the performance of self-driving cars. This approach might lead to groundbreaking improvements that traditional methods might overlook.
How You Can Benefit
Adopt these insights to enhance your engineering toolkit. Whether you’re preparing for a job interview, tackling a new project, or just aiming to improve your problem-solving skills, the ability to switch between a solution-seeking and a problem-solving mindset can set you apart as a versatile and high-performing engineer.