Figuring out problem solving

Discussion on problem solving. I think that the outlining of how to make a choice in the decision making process to be particularly valuable. I think that understanding how and why we make the decisions we do can be an integral part of being a better communicator as well as improving the outcomes of so many scenarios we find ourselves in everyday. Because we are problem solving creatures by nature, our minds seem to have been built to find solutions. Over time though, and through the expansion on more and more ways to solve problems, our brains nowadays can sometimes be overwhelmed with to many choices for a solution. I think that a Harris(1999) outlines a great system for making a rational, effective, and promising choice.(p. 150) One of the things I liked about her questions for small groups when faced with making a choice was that it isn't a short list. Good decisions can sometimes take a long time to make. They are most likely thought out, considerate, and logical decisions that help get the group from point A to point B effectively. The first part of the system asks "how well does..." the solution interact with the rest of the problem, or the solution already in place. Knowing if a solution is really going to meet all your goals, how well it can meet those goals, and accommodates all the restrictions with the least amount of trade-offs , is an important level to meet when looking for the right choice. But, finding those win-win situations is rare, especially in groups. There are typically a multitude of choices, and not all of them negative, each having their own pros and cons. Just think of the last time you tried to decided upon what food to eat with a large group. What everyone wants to eat may be different for everyone, but everyone may agree that each choice sounds appetizing. What do you do when all the choices sound promising? What about looking at the underlying pro's and con's of each meal choice? The cost, distance, and level of service, are all parts of each choice to consider, and something we all have done without ever really thinking about it. Being able to better understand how choices are made, and how to make the best one, can be hugely beneficial in this simple situation, as well as majorly complex ones. Just don't try doing it with politics or religion with people, it might get ugly.