innovation as problem solving: managing problem spaces

8/6/2019 Innovation as Problem Solving: Managing Problem Spaces

1/25

Innovation asInnovation asProblem Solving:Problem Solving:

Managing ProblemManaging Problem Spaces

Copyright 2011, Semantech Inc., All Rights Reserved

Presented by Stephen Lahanas

Applied InnovationApplied Innovation


2/25

2Copyright 2011, Semantech Inc.

Web Servers are one thing, Nuclear Reactors are

a bit more dangerous there are systems which

absolutely must not FAIL.

The Future Begins with an idea

Innovation represents the deliberate attempt tochange current reality.

Those who believe that things can be better or can

be done better have the motivation to pursuechange Innovation is the roadmap or blueprint for

that change.

The Future consists of thousands of such

blueprints coming together to build a new reality

InnovationWorx is dedicated to providing

consistent and actionable Innovation for you


3/25





Introduction

T

he argument can be made that most if not allInnovation is a problem-solving exercise.

If we accept this to be true then weve been given

the key to transforming Innovation into a

predictable, repeatable and consistent exercise.

Problem-Solving can be more than a one-off

activity. It is also necessarily more than distinct

empirical exercises as well. This presentation will examine how problem

solving can be managed utilizing a logical

construct known as Problem Spaces.


4/25





Problems exist everywhere but

how many of them are truly isolated

and how many are related?


5/25





What is Problem Solving ?

Problem Solving is often viewed in either / orterms. People often view it as one extreme or the

other either artistic or scientific one approach

applying a method or discipline and the other

approach dependent upon individual creativity. Both of these views however are limiting. Problem

Solving involves not just a single problem but a

set of related problems. This related problem set is

in effect a Problem Space. Tackling a problemspace goes beyond ordinary empirical

methodology and it also requires creative input

from more than one individual.


6/25


Problem Space Characteristics


7/25





Problem Spaces Explained

Problem Spaces exhibit three primarycharacteristics:

A Causality Set Those elements which

influence or cause the problem/s.

A Manifestation Set Those elements whichdemonstrate the problem/s.

A Resolution Set Those elements which may

impact the previous two sets.

As noted before, a Problem Space likely also

involves or contains more than one specific

problem.


8/25

Copyright 2011, Semantech Inc.

Problem Solving is Nonlinear


9/25





A very important consideration in all problem

solving is the ability to support not just consistentmethodology, but also the ability to leverage

automation and knowledge management

technology.

In the previous diagram weve illustrated a process

within a system of systems ecosystem - one that

allows for management of problem spaces across

relatively large data sets. In real life, unlike in conventional empirical science,

discovery & progress occurs in bursts and in

unexpected ways its nonlinear.

Problem SolvingAutomation


10/25





The true power of Problem Solving

is in the potential for collaborative

analysis current empiricaldiscovery emphasizes the

individual over the team


11/25


TheWorld is Connected

All Problem Spaces are related, the key is being able to understand

where and how they are related. Artificially separating problems /problem domains leads to incomplete understanding.


12/25





Problems are Concepts First

Every problem can be represented either

symbolically or conceptually or both.

Thus a problem and its related problem space and

any other related problem spaces are logical in

nature (they may also have physical attributes).

Problems and problem spaces can thus be

represented and connected using data entities and

meta-data.

Problems and problem spaces are not static they

are dynamic (change over time).


13/25





Few problems fit entirely within the

dimensions of typical empirical

experiments. Problems are complexand interconnected experiments

strive for simplicity.


14/25


Problem Semantics


15/25





Exploiting Problem Semantics

Exploitation of problem semantics requires clear

definitions. It also requires the ability to examine

specific problem instances in context.

Problem Set Description Describes a problem

domain or set of related problems. The Problem Description Describes a generic or

specific problem instance.

Problem (Use) Cases Places problem instances

into real-world contexts. Problem element Metadata This allows for all

aspects of a problem, problem instance or problem

space to be characterized and compared.


16/25





Problem Instances

A problem can be viewed much like a Class in

Object Oriented programming.

In other words, it can exist both as a generic

description as well as specific instance.

There is thus always the probability that instances

will differ in some way from the generic description.

Having the flexibility to manage problems andproblem spaces in this fashion allows innovators

more opportunities to discover successful

resolutions.


17/25





The majority of problem solving and

innovation exercises involve improvementof existing situations rather than invention of

new solutions. Invention is more exciting but

improvements are important too


18/25


Problem-BasedAssessments

Problem Spaces allow for the management of any number of

problem-based assessment scenarios. This is supported by direct

correlation between (related) Use Cases translated to a Scenario

context (more focused) through the evaluation test cases. Key point

to keep in mind a Problem Use Case can have many different

evaluation scenario contexts / test cases.


19/25


W

hile studying key conceptsrelated to aeronautics, the

Wright Brothers realized that

many issues had not yet

been solved

Learning is symbiotic with

problem-solving

Problem-Solving is Learning


20/25


Continuous Innovation


21/25


Applied Problem Spaces

The previous diagram illustrates an example of

where problems and problem space management

are applied directly to a Continuous Innovation

paradigm.

The example recognizes the relationship betweenproblem domains and multiple innovation

initiatives. This type of approach allows for

coordinated synergy amongst related efforts.

Problem Space Management can be applied to

science, to information systems, to government

to just about any endeavor.


22/25


The search for answers begins

with the ability to not only ask

the right questions but to place

the entire set of questionstogether within a coherent

context.


23/25


24/25


Semantech Inc. is InnovationWorx

Semantech Inc. is a solutions provider founded in2007. Our company is located in the Dayton, Ohio

metro area. Since our inception we have

supported clients in a more than half a dozen

industries nationwide.

Our company represents a unique approach

were not offering just IT or Management

Consulting.We specialize in facilitating complexorganizational Transformations. This is why

InnovationWorx was created. Semantech was

founded to facilitate change


25/25


Defining Reality

Reality is a shared conceptual

perspective of the world

around us. As we contribute

new ideas to that perspective

reality changes

innovation as problem solving: managing problem spaces

Documents