Design Problem-Solving: Methodologies, Strategies, and Solutions

Design Problem-Solving 1
DESIGN PROBLEM-SOLVING
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Design Problem-Solving 2
Relevant problem-solving methodologies
Information Technology Practice and Engineering focus on design and problem-solving.
Here, the artifacts must be conceived, established, utilized, modified, maintained as well as
retired. During these process, engineers are faced with complex problems which might seem
easy to a layperson, but very complex. Such problems show 3 shared features: Firstly, the
problem alone is never often identified easily. Usually, view of the customer about the problem
is, very imprecise at best, and extremely deceptive at worst. Secondly, problem is always open-
ended. No single “correct” solution. Rather, an assembly of options must be accounted for in an
attempt to get the “best” or even a most appropriate solution. Usually, the “best” solution shall
hinge on objectives or viewpoints of the client (Jones and Jones 2015).
Thirdly, at least, there is, in the first phases of the process of design, a considerable
absent of info. Engineers have to collect info as required and have to identify, amongst all
information that might be gathered, how much and what is essential. Initially, these complex
design aspects were ignored in engineering education. Preferably, the focus was on
comprehensive examination alongside the difficult, insufficiently defined, aspect of design
including identification of problem, conception as well as substitute solution generation.
However, there has been an acknowledgment in the recent past that conceptual, innovative, as
well as creative design aspects, have shared characteristics irrespective of the particular problem
that needs a solution. Consequently, it has been realized that it is feasible for strategies alongside
methodologies to be taught for tackling problems. Importantly, many colleges have since ushered
project and coursework on methodology of design into curriculum.
The system approach and analysis: This resulted from the fact that engineering
innovation has become complex and hence the need for system approaches. The complex

Design Problem-Solving 3
projects have since become very huge to be addressed by one individual hence teams for design
created with a lead-engineer taking a manager’s role. Project is divided into specific parts which
are then allocated to each primary team member.
In the massive project as seen in the system hierarchy above, every person manages
another engineers’ group who work on the sub-project. Thus, the systems idea hierarchy and
subsystem emerge with accompanying formal mechanism need for handling different teams’
interactions (Von Hippel and Von Krogh 2015). Previous problem-solving approaches are now
employed in every subsystem and system. For example, considering the total cost of a pipeline
optimization together with the pump developed for raising water from low-lying reservoir to a
raised one, two extremes must be considered.