Have you heard the phrase “A solution in search of a problem?”

The text asserts that the first phase of decision-making and problem-solving—specifying the correct decision to be made or problem to be solved—is the more important phase. Recall problems or decisions you have observed where the nature of the problem and appropriate solutions were not clear at the outset (i.e., an “ill-structured problem”). Discuss how well the problem was found and defined (including learning about factors contributing to the problem and agreeing upon goals) and how well the solution worked. To what extent do you think the problem definition process affected the adequacy of the solution chosen? In retrospect do you see how the quality of thinking affected the decision identification process?