As a convergent thinker, I like a problem with a correct answer. (Goldstein, 349) That’s why in my line of work as a bookkeeper there is usually a right answer. However, finding it can sometimes be an obstacle. In my job it is my responsibility to manage and balance bank accounts with very large sums of money; doing this can be quite daunting at times. Using Means-end analysis or working backward are my two techniques for solving problems.

Just last week, I was balancing month end accounts. Normally, this is very straightforward and I just have to match beginning balances with end balances. However, this was not the case this time. I was off by $100. Luckily for me it was an even number, which makes this much easier to find, or so I thought. I always begin by working backwards. I start from my goal state, the ending balance, and work backwards, each daily entry, until I find the issue. ( Wede, 12) Except, what I found was this problem was more then just in “the current month”. I actually had to go back to 2011. So I had to change my approach.

I now had to abandon the working backward technique and use means-end analysis. What I did was break this down into sub-goals, each mouth, rather then the 2 years I had to go back. I found the point I time, 6/2011 when the account balance in my system and the account balance on my statements matched. Then I checked the daily entries each month till I found the issue. Turns out, instead of entering 2014 on the date I entered 2011. (Yikes!)

Having means-end analysis helped my break my problem into more manageable parts to get to the end solution to the problem. I knew there was a correct solution; I just had to find it.

Goldstein,  E. Bruce, (2011) Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience Third Edition, (pg179-180). Canada: Wadsworth Cengage Learning,

Wade, J. (2014) PSYCH 256: INTRO TO COGNATIVE PSYCHOLOGY, lesson 13: Problem Solving, The Pennsylvania State University, https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp14/psych256/001/content/14_lesson/01_page.html