A problem occurs when there is an obstacle between a present state and a goal and it’s not immediately obvious how to get around the obstacle. (Cengage, 2011) In life, we all face problems; well defined and ill defined. Sometimes we possess insight to immediate solutions and other times we have to restructure our problems to arrive at a delayed solution. When faced with life’s challenges, we as humans have a mental mind set as to how we view the outcome in which our problems are resolved. But let’s be real! Sometimes things don’t always work out the way we see them in our minds and we have to be flexible and not be functionally fixed on our initial resolution. However, no one goes through life without facing challenges that require that unique mental processing skill of problem solving.
As a social worker, every month I am faced with the challenge of scheduling assessment home visits for my disabled and aged clientele. Some clients are fairly easy to schedule, while some are difficult. In my mind, I already have preconceived dates and times on my calendar that I will only see clients. I like to see my clients at: 9:30 AM, 10:30AM, 2:30PM, and 3:30PM. As much as I would like to keep my schedule etched in stone, I always have to make exceptions. I always receive a phone call or a voicemail from a client stating, “Ms. Bradford, I need to reschedule my appointment. I have a doctor’s appointment on that date. Please call me back.” It never fails, each month I have to make an exception due to the client’s availability, scheduled doctor’s appointments, interpreter schedule (for client’s who don’t speak English), or for the availability of a responsible family member or conservator’s presence. I have to be flexible.
My conflict of scheduling not only poses a problem for my clients; but proposes an ill defined problem for me. While tentatively scheduling my assessments, I also have to consider my own personal schedule. I have to use some insight. I must think about my vacation time, dentist and doctor’s appointments, and even incubation. Sometimes I need a break from the hustle and bustle of dealing with stress from clients, their caregivers, and annoying family members. I have to consider will my personal schedule collide with the home visits of my clients? Will I get behind on my work if I take leave? If I schedule an appointment late in the day, due to the client’s availability, will I have enough time and energy to complete homework assignments? Even though while in the initial state, everything is perfect according to the fixed schedule I have in my mind, I always have to consider restructuring my schedule to be an effective social worker.
All in all, when faced with solving ill defined and well defined problems, one cannot be fixated with a concrete mind set. You have to be flexible. Everything in the initial state may seem conducive for where your mind set is in the present; but sometimes you have to restructure your plans in order to achieve the goal state. While on the journey of reaching the goal state of the problem, you may have to resort to subgoals, which will place you closer to your goal of problem solving. The solution to a problem occurs when you don’t focus on a specific characteristic of the problem; but focus on the problem as a whole and how you might have to restructure your preconceived notions to reach the goal state. Be flexible and open to various solutions.
Reference:
Goldstein, B (2011). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience, 3rd Edition. Wadsworth Inc.