Problem Solving

 

I listened to an interesting conversation about trouble shooting/problem solving and both are becoming a lost art.  With the amount of information available in the web, you can just about find the answer to any issue with a simple search, as opposed to using thought and actual skill.  I mean really, can you think of the last time you saw someone apply even the most basic and fundamental building block of troubleshooting: The KISS Principle and I don’t mean the band.  Yep, KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. 

You know checking the most obvious things like you car pulling in one direction when you release the steering wheel – did you check the air in the tires?  There is the one we all love – did you check your computer to make sure it is plugged in?  Heck, as much as I spend on the dang things, I was recently frustrated with my wireless network only to find I had turned the wireless adaptor switch off when I moved my machine. 

Then there is the all time favorite skill called shot gunning.  You keep replacing things until it works again.  The only issue is that you never really can pinpoint what caused the issue to begin, which means the underlying problem could still linger.

The majority of the “new” generation could not find their butt with both hands without the help of the cell phone or “iWhatever.”  I’m all about levering technology to help make things more efficient and easier, but when we allow it to take the place of fundamental thought processes and problem solving, well “Houston we have a problem.”