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Making Decisions and Solving Problems

CHAPTER 6 Making Decisions and Solving Problems Rose Aguilar Welch This chapter describes the key concepts related to problem solving and decision making. The primary steps of the problem-solving and decision-making processes, as well as analytical tools used for these processes, are explored. Moreover, strategies for individual or group problem solving and decision making are presented. Objectives •  Apply a decision-making format to list options to solve a problem, identify the pros and cons of each option, rank the options, and select the best option. •  Evaluate the effect of faulty information gathering on a decision-making experience. •  Analyze the decision-making style of a nurse leader/manager. •  Critique resources on the Internet that focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. Terms to Know autocratic creativity critical thinking decision making democratic optimizing decision participative problem solving satisficing decision The Challenge Vickie Lemmon RN, MSN Director of Clinical Strategies and Operations, WellPoint, Inc., Ventura, California Healthcare managers today are faced with numerous and complex issues that pertain to providing quality services for patients within a resource-scarce environment. Stress levels among staff can escalate when problems are not resolved, leading to a decrease in morale, productivity, and quality service. This was the situation I encountered in my previous job as administrator for California Children Services (CCS). When I began my tenure as the new CCS administrator, staff expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with staffing, workload, and team communications. This was evidenced by high staff turnover, lack of teamwork, customer complaints, unmet deadlines for referral and enrollment cycle times, and poor documentation. The team was in crisis, characterized by in-fighting, blaming, lack of respectful communication, and lack of commitment to program goals and objectives. I had not worked as a case manager in this program. It was hard for me to determine how to address the problems the staff presented to me. I wanted to be fair but thought that I did not have enough information to make immediate changes. My challenge was to lead this team to greater compliance with state-mandated performance measures. What do you think you would do if you were this nurse? Introduction Problem solving and decision making are essential skills for effective nursing practice. Carol Huston (2008) identified “expert decision-making skills” as one of the eight vital leadership competencies for 2020. These processes not only are involved in managing and delivering care but also are essential for engaging in planned change. Myriad technologic, social, political, and economic changes have dramatically affected health care and nursing. Increased patient acuity, shorter hospital stays, shortage of healthcare providers, increased technology, greater emphasis on quality and patient safety, and the continuing shift from inpatient to ambulatory and home health care are some of the changes that require nurses to make rational and valid decisions. Moreover, increased diversity in patient populations, employment settings, and types of healthcare providers demands efficient and effective decision making and problem solving. More emphasis is now placed on involving patients in decision making and problem solving and using multidisciplinary teams to achieve results. Nurses must possess the basic knowledge and skills required for effective problem solving and decision making. These competencies are especially important for nurses with leadership and management responsibilities. Definitions Problem solving and decision making are not synonymous terms. However, the processes for engaging in both processes are similar. Both skills require critical thinking, which is a high-level cognitive process, and both can be improved with practice. Decision making is a purposeful and goal-directed effort that uses a systematic process to choose among options. Not all decision making begins with a problem situation. Instead, the hallmark of decision making is the identification and selection of options or alternatives. Problem solving, which includes a decision-making step, is focused on trying to solve an immediate problem, which can be viewed as a gap between “what is” and “what should be.” Effective problem solving and decision making are predicated on an individual’s ability to think critically. Although critical thinking has been defined in numerous ways, Scriven and Paul (2007) refer to it as “ the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.” Effective critical thinkers are self-aware individuals who strive to improve their reasoning abilities by asking “why,” “what,” or “how.” A nurse who questions why a patient is restless is thinking critically. Compare the analytical abilities of a nurse who assumes a patient is restless because of anxiety related to an upcoming procedure with those of a nurse who asks if there could be another explanation and proceeds to investigate possible causes. It is important for nurse leaders and managers to assess staff members’ ability to think critically and enhance their knowledge and skills through staff-development programs, coaching, and role modeling. Establishing a positive and motivating work environment can enhance attitudes and dispositions to think critically. Creativity is essential for the generation of options or solutions. Creative individuals can conceptualize new and innovative approaches to a problem or issue by being more flexible and independent in their thinking. It takes just one person to plant a seed for new ideas to generate . The model depicted in Figure 6-1 demonstrates the relationship among related concepts such as professional judgment, decision making, problem solving, creativity, and critical thinking. Sound clinical judgment requires critical or reflective thinking. Critical thinking is the concept that interweaves and links the others. An individual, through the application of critical-thinking skills, engages in problem solving and decision making in an environment that can promote or inhibit these skills. It is the nurse leader’s and manager’s task to model these skills and promote them in others. FiGURE 6-1 Problem-solving and decision-making model. Decision Making This section presents an overview of concepts related to decision models, decision-making styles, factors affecting decision making, group decision making (advantages and challenges), and strategies and tools. The phases of the decision-making process include defining objectives, generating options, identifying advantages and disadvantages of each option, ranking the options, selecting the option most likely to achieve the predefined objectives, implementing the option, and evaluating the result. Box 6-1 contains a form that can be used to complete these steps. BOX 6-1    Decision-Making Format Objective: _____________________________________ Options Advantages Disadvantages Ranking                                 Add more rows as necessary. Rank priority of options, with “1” being most preferred. Select the best option. Implementation plan: ______________________________________________________________________________ Evaluation plan: __________________________________________________________________________________ A poor-quality decision is likely if the objectives are not clearly identified or if they are inconsistent with the values of the individual or organization. Lewis Carroll illustrates the essential step of defining the goal, purpose, or objectives in the following excerpt from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire Cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. His response was a question: “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.” Decision Models The decision model that a nurse uses depends on the circumstances. Is the situation routine and predictable or complex and uncertain? Is the goal of the decision to make a decision conservatively that is just good enough or one that is optimal? If the situation is fairly routine, nurse leaders and managers can use a normative or prescriptive approach. Agency policy, standard procedures, and analytical tools can be applied to situations that are structured and in which options are known. If the situation is subjective, non-routine, and unstructured or if outcomes are unknown or unpredictable, the nurse leader and manager may need to take a different approach. In this case, a descriptive or behavioral approach is required. More information will need to be gathered to address the situation effectively. Creativity, experience, and group process are useful in dealing with the unknown. In the business world, Camillus described complex problems that are difficult to describe or resolve as “wicked” (as cited in Huston, 2008 ). This term is apt in describing the issues that nurse leaders face. In these situations, it is especially important for nurse leaders to seek expert opinion and involve key stakeholders. Another strategy is satisficing. In this approach, the decision maker selects the solution that minimally meets the objective or standard for a decision. It allows for quick decisions and may be the most appropriate when time is an issue. Optimizing is a decision style in which the decision maker selects the option that is best, based on an analysis of the pros and cons associated with each option. A better decision is more likely using this approach, although it does take longer to arrive at a decision. For example, a nursing student approaching graduation is contemplating seeking employment in one of three acute care hospitals located within a 40-mile radius of home. The choices are a medium-size, not-for-profit community hospital; a large, corporate-owned hospital; and a county facility. A satisficing decision might result if the student nurse picked the hospital that offered a decent salary and benefit packet or the one closest to home. However, an optimizing decision is more likely to occur if the student nurse lists the pros and cons of each acute care hospital being considered such as salary, benefits, opportunities for advancement, staff development, and mentorship programs. Decision-Making Styles The decision-making style of a nurse manager is similar to the leadership style that the manager is likely to use. A manager who leans toward an autocratic style may choose to make decisions independent of the input or participation of others. This has been referred to as the “decide and announce” approach, an authoritative style. On the other hand, a manager who uses a democratic or participative approach to management involves the appropriate personnel in the decision-making process. It is imperative for managers to involve nursing personnel in making decisions that affect patient care. One mechanism for doing so is by seeking nursing representation on various committees or task forces. Participative management has been shown to increase work performance and productivity, decrease employee turnover, and enhance employee satisfaction. Any decision style can be used appropriately or inappropriately. Like the tenets of situational leadership theory, the situation and circumstances should dictate which decision-making style is most appropriate. A Code Blue is not the time for managers to democratically solicit volunteers for chest compressions! The autocratic method results in more rapid decision making and is appropriate in crisis situations or when groups are likely to accept this type of decision style. However, followers are generally more supportive of consultative and group approaches. Although these approaches take more time, they are more appropriate when conflict is likely to occur, when the problem is unstructured, or when the manager does not have the knowledge or skills to solve the problem. Exercise 6-1 Interview colleagues about their most preferred decision-making model and style. What barriers or obstacles to effective decision making have your colleagues encountered? What strategies are used to increase the effectiveness of the decisions made? Based on your interview, is the style effective? Why or why not? Factors Affecting Decision Making Numerous factors affect individuals and groups in the decision-making process. Tanner (2006) conducted an extensive review of the literature to develop a Clinical Judgment Model. Out of the research, she concluded that five principle factors influence decision making. (See the Literature Perspective below.) Literature Perspective Resource: Tanner, C. A. (2006). Thinking like a nurse: A research-based model of clinical judgment in nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 45 (6), 204-211. Tanner engaged in an extensive review of 200 studies focusing on clinical judgment and clinical decision making to derive a model of clinical judgment that can be used as a framework for instruction. The first review summarized 120 articles and was published in 1998. The 2006 article reviewed an additional 71 studies published since 1998. Based on an analysis of the entire set of articles, Tanner proposed five conclusions which are listed below. The reader is referred to the article for detailed explanation of each of the five conclusions. The author considers clinical judgment as a “problem-solving activity.” She notes that the terms “clinical judgment,” “problem solving,” “decision making,” and “critical thinking” are often used interchangeably. For the purpose of aiding in the development of the model, Tanner defined clinical judgment as actions taken based on the assessment of the patient’s needs. Clinical reasoning is the process by which nurses make their judgments (e.g., the decision-making process of selecting the most appropriate option) ( Tanner, 2006 , p. 204): 1.  Clinical judgments are more influenced by what nurses bring to the situation than the objective data about the situation at hand. 2.  Sound clinical judgment rests to some degree on knowing the patient and his or her typical pattern of responses, as well as an engagement with the patient and his or her concerns. 3.  Clinical judgments are influenced by the context in which the situation occurs and the culture of the nursing care unit. 4.  Nurses use a variety of reasoning patterns alone or in combination. 5.  Reflection on practice is often triggered by a breakdown in clinical judgment and is critical for the development of clinical knowledge and improvement in clinical reasoning. The Clinical Judgment Model developed through the review of the literature involves four steps that are similar to problem-solving and decision-making steps described in this chapter. The model starts with a phase called “Noticing.” In this phase, the nurse comes to expect certain responses resulting from knowledge gleaned from similar patient situations, experiences, and knowledge. External factors influence nurses in this phase such as the complexity of the environment and values and typical practices within the unit culture. The second phase of the model is “Interpreting,” during which the nurse understands the situation that requires a response. The nurse employs various reasoning patterns to make sense of the issue and to derive an appropriate action plan. The third phase is “Responding,” during which the nurse decides on the best option for handling the situation. This is followed by the fourth phase, “Reflecting,” during which the nurse assesses the patient’s responses to the actions taken. Tanner emphasized that “reflection-in-action” and “reflection-on-action” are major processes required in the model. Reflection-in-action is real-time reflection on the patient’s responses to nursing action with modifications to the plan based on the ongoing assessment. On the other hand, reflection-on-action is a review of the experience, which promotes learning for future similar experiences. Nurse educators and managers can employ this model with new and experienced nurses to aid in understanding thought processes involved in decision making. As Tanner (2006) so eloquently concludes, “If we, as nurse educators, help our students understand and develop as moral agents, advance their clinical knowledge through expert guidance and coaching, and become habitual in reflection-on-practice, they will have learned to think like a nurse” ( p. 210 ). Implications for Practice Nurse educators and managers can employ this model with new and experienced nurses to aid in understanding thought processes involved in decision making. For example, students and practicing nurses can be encouraged to maintain reflective journals to record observations and impressions from clinical experiences. In clinical post-conferences or staff development meetings, the nurse educator and manager can engage them in applying to their lived experiences the five conclusions Tanner proposed. The ultimate goal of analyzing their decisions and decision-making processes is to improve clinical judgment, problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills. Internal and external factors can influence how the situation is perceived. Internal factors include variables such as the decision maker’s physical and emotional state, personal philosophy, biases, values, interests, experience, knowledge, attitudes, and risk-seeking or risk-avoiding behaviors. External factors include environmental conditions, time, and resources. Decision-making options are externally limited when time is short or when the environment is characterized by a “we’ve always done it this way” attitude. Values affect all aspects of decision making, from the statement of the problem/issue through the evaluation. Values, determined by one’s cultural, social, and philosophical background, provide the foundation for one’s ethical stance. The steps for engaging in ethical decision making are similar to the steps described earlier; however, alternatives or options identified in the decision-making process are evaluated with the use of ethical resources. Resources that can facilitate ethical decision making include institutional policy; principles such as autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, veracity, paternalism, respect, justice, and fidelity; personal judgment; trusted co-workers; institutional ethics committees; and legal precedent. Certain personality factors, such as self-esteem and self-confidence, affect whether one is willing to take risks in solving problems or making decisions. Keynes (2008) asserts that individuals may be influenced based on social pressures. For example, are you inclined to make decisions to satisfy people to whom you are accountable or from whom you feel social pressure? Characteristics of an effective decision maker include courage, a willingness to take risks, self-awareness, energy, creativity, sensitivity, and flexibility. Ask yourself, “Do I prefer to let others make the decisions? Am I more comfortable in the role of ‘follower’ than leader? If so, why?” Exercise 6-2 Identify a current or past situation that involved resource allocation, end-of-life issues, conflict among healthcare providers or patient/family/significant others, or some other ethical dilemma. Describe how the internal and external factors previously described influenced the decision options, the option selected, and the outcome. Group Decision Making There are two primary criteria for effective decision making. First, the decision must be of a high quality; that is, it achieves the predefined goals, objectives, and outcomes. Second, those who are responsible for its implementation must accept the decision. Higher-quality decisions are more likely to result if groups are involved in the problem-solving and decision-making process. In reality, with the increased focus on quality and safety, decisions cannot be made alone. When individuals are allowed input into the process, they tend to function more productively and the quality of the decision is generally superior. Taking ownership of the process and outcome provides a smoother transition. Multidisciplinary teams should be used in the decision-making process, especially if the issue, options, or outcome involves other disciplines. Research findings suggest that groups are more likely to be effective if members are actively involved, the group is cohesive, communication is encouraged, and members demonstrate some understanding of the group process. In deciding to use the group process for decision making, it is important to consider group size and composition. If the group is too small, a limited number of options will be generated and fewer points of view expressed. Conversely, if the group is too large, it may lack structure, and consensus becomes more difficult. Homogeneous groups may be more compatible; however, heterogeneous groups may be more successful in problem solving. Research has demonstrated that the most productive groups are those that are moderately cohesive. In other words, divergent thinking is useful to create the best decision. For groups to be able to work effectively, the group facilitator or leader should carefully select members on the basis of their knowledge and skills in decision making and problem solving. Individuals who are aggressive, are authoritarian, or manifest self-oriented behaviors tend to decrease the effectiveness of groups. The nurse leader or manager should provide a nonthreatening and positive environment in which group members are encouraged to participate actively. Using tact and diplomacy, the facilitator can control aggressive individuals who tend to monopolize the discussion and can encourage more passive individuals to contribute by asking direct, open-ended questions. Providing positive feedback such as “You raised a good point,” protecting members and their suggestions from attack, and keeping the group focused on the task are strategies that create an environment conducive to problem solving. Advantages of Group Decision Making The advantages of group decision making are numerous. The adage “two heads are better than one” illustrates that when individuals with different knowledge, skills, and resources collaborate to solve a problem or make a decision, the likelihood of a quality outcome is increased. More ideas can be generated by groups than by individuals functioning alone. In addition, when followers are directly involved in this process, they are more apt to accept the decision, because they have an increased sense of ownership or commitment to the decision. Implementing solutions becomes easier when individuals have been actively involved in the decision-making process. Involvement can be enhanced by making information readily available to the appropriate personnel, requesting input, establishing committees and task forces with broad representation, and using group decision-making techniques. The group leader must establish with the participants what decision rule will be followed. Will the group strive to achieve consensus, or will the majority rule? In determining which decision rule to use, the group leader should consider the necessity for quality and acceptance of the decision. Achieving both a high-quality and an acceptable decision is possible, but it requires more involvement and approval from individuals affected by the decision. Groups will be more committed to an idea if it is derived by consensus rather than as an outcome of individual decision making or majority rule. Consensus requires that all participants agree to go along with the decision. Although achieving consensus requires considerable time, it results in both high-quality and high-acceptance decisions and reduces the risk of sabotage. Majority rule can be used to compromise when 100% agreement cannot be achieved. This method saves time, but the solution may only partially achieve the goals of quality and acceptance. In addition, majority rule carries certain risks. First, if the informal group leaders happen to fall in the minority opinion, they may not support the decision of the majority. Certain members may go so far as to build coalitions to gain support for their position and block the majority choice. After all, the majority may represent only 51% of the group. In addition, group members may support the position of the formal leader, although they do not agree with the decision, because they fear reprisal or they wish to obtain the leader’s approval. In general, as the importance of the decision increases, so does the percentage of group members required to approve it. To secure the support of the group, the leader should maintain open communication with those affected by the decision and be honest about the advantages and disadvantages of the decision. The leader should also demonstrate how the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, suggest ways the unwanted outcomes can be minimized, and be available to assist when necessary.

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Problem solving in nursing practice: application, process, skill acquisition and measurement

Affiliation.

• 1 King's College, University of London, England.
• PMID: 8320382
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1993.18060886.x

This paper analyses the role of problem solving in nursing practice including the process, acquisition and measurement of problem-solving skills. It is argued that while problem-solving ability is acknowledged as critical if today's nurse practitioner is to maintain effective clinical practice, to date it retains a marginal place in nurse education curricula. Further, it has attracted limited empirical study. Such an omission, it is argued, requires urgent redress if the nursing profession is to meet effectively the challenges of the next decade and beyond.

Publication types

• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Education, Nursing
• Educational Measurement
• Nurses / psychology*
• Problem Solving*

• Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur

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Processo di nursing: il problem solving applicato all’infermieristica

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Il processo di nursing è il metodo scientifico con cui l’infermiere opera nei confronti dei suoi assistiti. In questo articolo elencheremo i fondamentali della procedura alla base dell’assistenza infermieristica e le fasi del problem solving applicato all’infermieristica .

Cosa è il processo di nursing?

Accertamento: raccolta e organizzazione dati, diagnosi infermieristica, identificazione degli obiettivi, pianificazione, valutazione.

Con processo di nursing si identifica un approccio logico e razionale, ispirato ad una metodologia sistematica (il problem solving scientifico) , atta all’erogazione finalizzata di cure infermieristiche, e che soddisfi gli specifici bisogni di assistenza della persona. Quali sono le fasi del processo di nursing? il metodo viene classicamente suddiviso in 6 fasi:

• accertamento,
• identificazione degli obiettivi,
• pianificazione,
• attuazione,
• valutazione.

Il problem solving è alla base del processo di nursing e ne permette la flessibilità necessaria nel “ mondo reale ” della pratica infermieristica clinica. Esso è costruito e sorretto dall’ information processing (inteso come la capacità di dare coerenza ai tutti i dati recepiti) e dal decision-making (metodo che ispira diverse fasi del processo). La teoria degli insiemi è in grado di contestualizzare ulteriormente il processo di assistenza infermieristica : in un sistema di insiemi, il processo di nursing è la somma dei sottoinsiemi più grande dell’insieme che li contiene, specificando anche che tutti i sottoinsiemi interagiscono (per intersezione) tra di loro. In base a questa teoria possiamo ulteriormente suddividere il processo di nursing in:

• Fase di input : accertamento (osservazione, in­tervista infermieristica ed esame fisico).
• Troughput : capacità di un sistema di elaborare dati, ovvero la parte progettuale che comprende le diagnosi infermieristiche e i risultati, dove tutto viene pianificato e attuato attraverso l’assistenza infermieristica.
• Fase di output : conclusione del servizio, revisione e valutazione finale.

Nel processo di nursing l’ accertamento infermieristico è la raccolta sistematica di dati soggettivi e oggettivi, con lo scopo di esprimere un giudizio infermieristico clinico su un paziente e i suoi bisogni di salute. E’ la base del processo di assistenza infermieristica. I dati dell’accertamento sono raccolti attraverso:

• osservazione e intuizione;
• anamnesi infermieristica, intervista(standard) e colloquio;
• esame obiettivo fisico.

L’ osservazione inizia durante il primo incontro con il paziente, ed è un processo continuo. L’ in­tervista infermieristica permette l’accertamento sistematico dello stato funzionale di salute, includendo la percezione e l’interpretazione dei problemi del paziente. Durante l’ esame fisico , per ottenere i dati, l’in­fermiere usa le tecniche di ispezione, percussione, palpazione e auscultazione. Le informazioni obiettive dalle registrazioni sanitarie, fra cui dati di laboratorio e diagnostici, completano il database. Di solito, un’approfondita anamnesi infermieristica e un accertamento fisico sono richieste al momento del ricove­ro o della presa in carico, oppure al momento della prima visita da parte di un infermiere di famiglia o di assistenza domiciliare . Questo database iniziale diventa il punto di riferimento per tutti gli ulteriori accertamenti in­fermieristici . In fase di raccolta dati è necessario considerare alcuni fattori che influenzano direttamente la qualità di questa parte del processo:

• Considerare l’attendibilità della fonte, che verrà suddivisa in primaria quando raccogliamo dati direttamente dal dialogo con il paziente e in secondaria quando avverrà attraverso parenti o altri operatori sanitari.
• Ricordare sempre lo scopo principale: individuazione del bisogno assistenziale del paziente.
• Valutare e discriminare le tipologie dei dati raccolti tra dati soggettivi (come il dolore ) e dati oggettivi (es. la pressione arteriosa ).

La diagnosi infermieristica è definita come “ un giudizio clinico sulle risposte di un individuo, una famiglia o una comunità a problemi di salute reali o potenziali o ai processi vitali ” e rappresenta la seconda fase del processo di nursing. Le diagnosi sono gli atti clinici dell’identificazione dei problemi ma anche la definizione di tali problemi. Le diagnosi infermieristiche offrono le basi per scegliere gli interventi infermieristici per raggiungere i ri­sultati di cui l’infermiere è responsabile. Quindi come operatore prescrittore l’infermiere diagnostica tutte quelle situazioni di cui è in qualche modo sensibile.

Quando una situazione clinica non è descritta completamente da una diagnosi infermieristica ma lo è da una diagnosi medica, parliamo di un problema collaborativo da cui nascono le prescrizioni dipendenti (collaboranti) e interdipendenti. I Nic/Noc sono strumenti che risolvono le interdipendenze. Cosa si intende per diagnosi infermieristica?

• È la base di scelta degli interventi di cui l’infermiere è responsabile.
• E’ un giudizio professionale sulle condizioni del paziente e sui trattamenti ricevuti.
• È cardine della pianificazione.
• Interpretazione dei dati al fine di individuare i bisogni del paziente per considerare l’assistenza necessaria per superare la malattia.

Cosa non è?

• Una diagnosi medica, non è un problema, si occupa del malato e non della malattia.
• Una singola etichetta concettuale come obesità, ma una circoscrizione totale sul bisogno del paziente.
• Una situazione clinica come la gravidanza o un’insieme di segni.

Quali sono le tipologie di diagnosi infermieristica? Una diagnosi infermieristica è principalmente di tre tipi: reale, di rischio o riguardante la salute o il benessere. Una diagnosi infermieristica reale è convalidata clinicamente e può essere formulata secondo questo standard:

• Titolo: alterazione, deficit, ecc..
• Definizione: quando univoca, definisce la diagnosi
• Maggiori se rappresentano l’80-100% sono indicatori critici
• Minori quando presenti al 50-70% validano la diagnosi a rafforzo della tesi iniziale.
• Fisiopatologia (bio e psiche)
• Situazionale
• Fasi maturative(postmenopausa)
• Trattamenti (interventi)

Una diagnosi infermieristica è di rischio quando accentua e verifica la vulnerabilità dell’assistito:

• Titolo: Rischio di…
• Correlato a: situazione eziologica
• Secondario a: ulteriori aggravamenti

L’identificazione dei risultati, comprendendo gli obiettivi del paziente e criteri di risultato, è parte integrante del processo di nursing. Si attiene al­la formulazione e alla documentazione di obiettivi misura­bili, realistici e centrati sul paziente. È una fase integrale, che porta a considerare i problemi e a usare i punti di forza del paziente nella pianificazione degli interventi. Caratteristica di un obiettivo infermieristico:

• Deve essere una descrizione precisa dei comportamenti che la persona dovrà compiere e o dei risultati che dovrà raggiungere.
• Soggetto (chi?);
• Verbo (quale azione?);
• Condizione (in quale circostanze?);
• Criterio (quanto desiderabile?)
• Tempo (entro quando?)
• Deve essere pertinente e coerente, logico, misurabile, realizzabile, osservabile, precise e accettabile.
• Può essere a breve o lungo termine.

Questa fase riguarda la preparazione di un piano di assistenza che sovrintenda e coordini le attività dell’equipe nell’erogazione dell’assistenza. Il piano di assistenza infermieristica è una sintesi scritta dell’assistenza che il paziente riceve. Deve essere raggiunta attraverso la giusta selezione delle priorità d’intervento. Sarà documentato nella cartella del paziente e l’infermiere è responsabile della sua stesura. Si avvale della compilazione di prestazioni infermieristiche : un sistema di decisioni tecniche e gestionali costituite da un insieme di azioni fisiche, verbali e mentali, pianificate in autonomia dall’infermiere per rispondere ad uno specifico bisogno di aiuto espresso o inespresso dall’assistito, ovvero con l’azione compensatoria di assistenza. Gli interventi infermieristici si distinguono a seconda del coinvolgimento in:

• L’insegnamento e l’educazione
• L’assistenza psicologica
• L’igiene personale
• Il riposizionamento
• L’aiuto nella deambulazione
• L’alimentazione
• Somministrazione di farmaci
• Procedure chirurgiche, terapeutiche e diagnostiche
• Prelievi di sangue
• Collaborazione all’educazione di un paziente; nel seguente caso gli interventi permettono all’infermiere di coordinare le sue attività in modo da usufruirsi delle conoscenze di altri professionisti a beneficio dell’assistito.

Ogni azione è orientata alla realizzazione degli obiettivi preposti assistendo il paziente a raggiungere il massimo livello funzionale di salute. Include anche la funzione di coordinamento, di delega e di attribuzione dei compiti . Essendo l’assistenza infermieri­stica erogata per raggiungere gli obiettivi del paziente, gli infermieri devono concentrarsi sulle loro azioni, assicu­randosi che ogni azione sia necessaria e richiesta. Le componenti dell’ attuazione sono il riaccertamento, l’inizio del piano, la valutazione della risposta e la registra­zione delle azioni eseguite. Momenti dell’intervento sono la convalida del piano e la preparazione delle persone, dell’ambiente e delle risorse. L’attuazione richiede l’uso di abilità intellettive, inter­personali e tecniche. La pratica infermieristica professio­nale richiede di sviluppare esperienze in ognuna di queste abilità. Sia la pianificazione che l’attuazione sono fondamentalmente documentate attraverso dei sistemi standard in cui gli interventi sono esplicitati e la loro attuazione è registrata. La registrazione degli interventi consente agli infermieri di:

• Condividere la gestione dell’assistenza generale infermieristica della persona
• Garantire la continuità assistenziale
• Modificare la pianificazione in funzione della valutazione dello stato di salute del paziente.

La valutazione è stima, classificazione e giudizio. Nella valutazione si scopre il motivo del successo o del fallimento. L’obiettivo può essere raggiunto, non raggiunto o parzialmente raggiunto. La valutazione verifica sia i risultati dell’assistenza che ogni singola fase, quindi oltre ad essere finale è anche continua e può presentarsi in ogni momento dell’attuazione. La valutazione positiva o meno, è una decisione che spetta all’interazione tra paziente e infermiere. Il giudizio nelle fasi precedenti del pro­cesso di nursing porta al ri-accertamento, alla rivalutazione della diagnosi infermieristica e, eventualmente, a nuova pianificazione.

Autore:  Dario Tobruk  (seguimi anche su  Linkedin  – Facebook – Instagram )

Per continuare a studiare gli argomenti più utili nella professione infermieristica, consigliamo di consultare il seguente testo:

Infermiere – Manuale per i concorsi e la formazione

L’infermiere.

Il manuale, giunto alla X edizione, costituisce un completo e indispensabile strumento di preparazione sia ai concorsi pubblici sia all’esercizio della professione di infermiere. Con un taglio teorico-pratico affronta in modo ampio ed esaustivo tutte le problematiche presenti. La prima parte concettuale ricostruisce l’organizzazione del mercato sanitario e affronta gli elementi tipici del processo di professionalizzazione dell’infermiere, a seguito delle novità della Legge Lorenzin n. 3/2018. La stessa parte evidenzia gli aspetti innovativi della professione avendo cura di offrire al lettore un’ampia panoramica sulle teorie del Nursing e l’utilizzo dei nuovi strumenti operativi. Al termine di ogni capitolo, test di verifica e risposte commentate permettono di verificare il grado di preparazione raggiunto e di allenarsi in vista delle prove concorsuali. La seconda parte applicativa prevede l’adozione di casi clinici quale strumento di attuazione della teoria alle procedure tipiche dell’assistenza infermieristica di base, specialistica e pre e post procedure diagnostiche, presentandosi come un validissimo supporto tecnico e metodologico all’esercizio della professione. Il manuale risulta essere uno strumento prezioso sia per lo studente sia per chi già opera nelle strutture sanitarie, in quanto offre al lettore la possibilità di valutare passo a passo le conoscenze acquisite attraverso la risoluzione dei test di verifica presenti alla fine di ogni capitolo e l’analisi motivata delle risposte. Nella sezione online su www.maggiolieditore.it, accessibile seguendo le istruzioni riportate in fondo al volume, saranno disponibili eventuali aggiornamenti normativi.   Cristina FabbriLaurea magistrale in Scienze infermieristiche e ostetriche. Laureata in Sociologia, Professore a contratto di Infermieristica, Università degli Studi di Bologna, corso di Laurea in Infermieristica-Cesena. Dirigente Professioni sanitarie Direzione Infermieristica e Tecnica Azienda USL Romagna, ambito Ravenna.Marilena MontaltiInfermiere, Dottoressa in Scienze infermieristiche e ostetriche. Master II livello in Ricerca clinica ed epidemiologia, prof. a.c. C. di Laurea in infermieristica, Università di Bologna. Responsabile Infermieristico Dipartimento Internistico, Azienda della Romagna Ambito di Rimini.

Marilena Montalti, Cristina Fabbri | Maggioli Editore 2020

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What is Problem Solving? (Steps, Techniques, Examples)

By Status.net Editorial Team on May 7, 2023 — 5 minutes to read

What Is Problem Solving?

Definition and importance.

Problem solving is the process of finding solutions to obstacles or challenges you encounter in your life or work. It is a crucial skill that allows you to tackle complex situations, adapt to changes, and overcome difficulties with ease. Mastering this ability will contribute to both your personal and professional growth, leading to more successful outcomes and better decision-making.

Problem-Solving Steps

The problem-solving process typically includes the following steps:

• Identify the issue : Recognize the problem that needs to be solved.
• Analyze the situation : Examine the issue in depth, gather all relevant information, and consider any limitations or constraints that may be present.
• Generate potential solutions : Brainstorm a list of possible solutions to the issue, without immediately judging or evaluating them.
• Evaluate options : Weigh the pros and cons of each potential solution, considering factors such as feasibility, effectiveness, and potential risks.
• Select the best solution : Choose the option that best addresses the problem and aligns with your objectives.
• Implement the solution : Put the selected solution into action and monitor the results to ensure it resolves the issue.
• Review and learn : Reflect on the problem-solving process, identify any improvements or adjustments that can be made, and apply these learnings to future situations.

Defining the Problem

To start tackling a problem, first, identify and understand it. Analyzing the issue thoroughly helps to clarify its scope and nature. Ask questions to gather information and consider the problem from various angles. Some strategies to define the problem include:

• Brainstorming with others
• Asking the 5 Ws and 1 H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How)
• Analyzing cause and effect
• Creating a problem statement

Generating Solutions

Once the problem is clearly understood, brainstorm possible solutions. Think creatively and keep an open mind, as well as considering lessons from past experiences. Consider:

• Creating a list of potential ideas to solve the problem
• Grouping and categorizing similar solutions
• Prioritizing potential solutions based on feasibility, cost, and resources required
• Involving others to share diverse opinions and inputs

Evaluating and Selecting Solutions

Evaluate each potential solution, weighing its pros and cons. To facilitate decision-making, use techniques such as:

• SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Decision-making matrices
• Pros and cons lists
• Risk assessments

After evaluating, choose the most suitable solution based on effectiveness, cost, and time constraints.

Implementing and Monitoring the Solution

Implement the chosen solution and monitor its progress. Key actions include:

• Communicating the solution to relevant parties
• Setting timelines and milestones
• Assigning tasks and responsibilities
• Monitoring the solution and making adjustments as necessary
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the solution after implementation

Utilize feedback from stakeholders and consider potential improvements. Remember that problem-solving is an ongoing process that can always be refined and enhanced.

Problem-Solving Techniques

During each step, you may find it helpful to utilize various problem-solving techniques, such as:

• Brainstorming : A free-flowing, open-minded session where ideas are generated and listed without judgment, to encourage creativity and innovative thinking.
• Root cause analysis : A method that explores the underlying causes of a problem to find the most effective solution rather than addressing superficial symptoms.
• SWOT analysis : A tool used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a problem or decision, providing a comprehensive view of the situation.
• Mind mapping : A visual technique that uses diagrams to organize and connect ideas, helping to identify patterns, relationships, and possible solutions.

Brainstorming

When facing a problem, start by conducting a brainstorming session. Gather your team and encourage an open discussion where everyone contributes ideas, no matter how outlandish they may seem. This helps you:

• Generate a diverse range of solutions
• Encourage all team members to participate
• Foster creative thinking

When brainstorming, remember to:

• Reserve judgment until the session is over
• Encourage wild ideas
• Combine and improve upon ideas

Root Cause Analysis

For effective problem-solving, identifying the root cause of the issue at hand is crucial. Try these methods:

• 5 Whys : Ask “why” five times to get to the underlying cause.
• Fishbone Diagram : Create a diagram representing the problem and break it down into categories of potential causes.
• Pareto Analysis : Determine the few most significant causes underlying the majority of problems.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis helps you examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to your problem. To perform a SWOT analysis:

• List your problem’s strengths, such as relevant resources or strong partnerships.
• Identify its weaknesses, such as knowledge gaps or limited resources.
• Explore opportunities, like trends or new technologies, that could help solve the problem.
• Recognize potential threats, like competition or regulatory barriers.

SWOT analysis aids in understanding the internal and external factors affecting the problem, which can help guide your solution.

Mind Mapping

A mind map is a visual representation of your problem and potential solutions. It enables you to organize information in a structured and intuitive manner. To create a mind map:

• Write the problem in the center of a blank page.
• Draw branches from the central problem to related sub-problems or contributing factors.
• Add more branches to represent potential solutions or further ideas.

Mind mapping allows you to visually see connections between ideas and promotes creativity in problem-solving.

Examples of Problem Solving in Various Contexts

In the business world, you might encounter problems related to finances, operations, or communication. Applying problem-solving skills in these situations could look like:

• Identifying areas of improvement in your company’s financial performance and implementing cost-saving measures
• Resolving internal conflicts among team members by listening and understanding different perspectives, then proposing and negotiating solutions
• Streamlining a process for better productivity by removing redundancies, automating tasks, or re-allocating resources

In educational contexts, problem-solving can be seen in various aspects, such as:

• Addressing a gap in students’ understanding by employing diverse teaching methods to cater to different learning styles
• Developing a strategy for successful time management to balance academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities
• Seeking resources and support to provide equal opportunities for learners with special needs or disabilities

Everyday life is full of challenges that require problem-solving skills. Some examples include:

• Overcoming a personal obstacle, such as improving your fitness level, by establishing achievable goals, measuring progress, and adjusting your approach accordingly
• Navigating a new environment or city by researching your surroundings, asking for directions, or using technology like GPS to guide you
• Dealing with a sudden change, like a change in your work schedule, by assessing the situation, identifying potential impacts, and adapting your plans to accommodate the change.
• How to Resolve Employee Conflict at Work [Steps, Tips, Examples]
• How to Write Inspiring Core Values? 5 Steps with Examples
• 30 Employee Feedback Examples (Positive & Negative)

35 problem-solving techniques and methods for solving complex problems

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All teams and organizations encounter challenges as they grow. There are problems that might occur for teams when it comes to miscommunication or resolving business-critical issues . You may face challenges around growth , design , user engagement, and even team culture and happiness. In short, problem-solving techniques should be part of every team’s skillset.

Problem-solving methods are primarily designed to help a group or team through a process of first identifying problems and challenges , ideating possible solutions , and then evaluating the most suitable .

Finding effective solutions to complex problems isn’t easy, but by using the right process and techniques, you can help your team be more efficient in the process.

So how do you develop strategies that are engaging, and empower your team to solve problems effectively?

In this blog post, we share a series of problem-solving tools you can use in your next workshop or team meeting. You’ll also find some tips for facilitating the process and how to enable others to solve complex problems.

Let’s get started! 

How do you identify problems?

How do you identify the right solution.

• Tips for more effective problem-solving

Complete problem-solving methods

• Problem-solving techniques to identify and analyze problems
• Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions

Problem-solving warm-up activities

Closing activities for a problem-solving process.

Before you can move towards finding the right solution for a given problem, you first need to identify and define the problem you wish to solve. 

Here, you want to clearly articulate what the problem is and allow your group to do the same. Remember that everyone in a group is likely to have differing perspectives and alignment is necessary in order to help the group move forward. 

Identifying a problem accurately also requires that all members of a group are able to contribute their views in an open and safe manner. It can be scary for people to stand up and contribute, especially if the problems or challenges are emotive or personal in nature. Be sure to try and create a psychologically safe space for these kinds of discussions.

Remember that problem analysis and further discussion are also important. Not taking the time to fully analyze and discuss a challenge can result in the development of solutions that are not fit for purpose or do not address the underlying issue.

Successfully identifying and then analyzing a problem means facilitating a group through activities designed to help them clearly and honestly articulate their thoughts and produce usable insight.

With this data, you might then produce a problem statement that clearly describes the problem you wish to be addressed and also state the goal of any process you undertake to tackle this issue.  

Finding solutions is the end goal of any process. Complex organizational challenges can only be solved with an appropriate solution but discovering them requires using the right problem-solving tool.

After you’ve explored a problem and discussed ideas, you need to help a team discuss and choose the right solution. Consensus tools and methods such as those below help a group explore possible solutions before then voting for the best. They’re a great way to tap into the collective intelligence of the group for great results!

Remember that the process is often iterative. Great problem solvers often roadtest a viable solution in a measured way to see what works too. While you might not get the right solution on your first try, the methods below help teams land on the most likely to succeed solution while also holding space for improvement.

Every effective problem solving process begins with an agenda . A well-structured workshop is one of the best methods for successfully guiding a group from exploring a problem to implementing a solution.

In SessionLab, it’s easy to go from an idea to a complete agenda . Start by dragging and dropping your core problem solving activities into place . Add timings, breaks and necessary materials before sharing your agenda with your colleagues.

The resulting agenda will be your guide to an effective and productive problem solving session that will also help you stay organized on the day!

Tips for more effective problem solving

Problem-solving activities are only one part of the puzzle. While a great method can help unlock your team’s ability to solve problems, without a thoughtful approach and strong facilitation the solutions may not be fit for purpose.

Let’s take a look at some problem-solving tips you can apply to any process to help it be a success!

Clearly define the problem

Jumping straight to solutions can be tempting, though without first clearly articulating a problem, the solution might not be the right one. Many of the problem-solving activities below include sections where the problem is explored and clearly defined before moving on.

This is a vital part of the problem-solving process and taking the time to fully define an issue can save time and effort later. A clear definition helps identify irrelevant information and it also ensures that your team sets off on the right track.

Don’t jump to conclusions

It’s easy for groups to exhibit cognitive bias or have preconceived ideas about both problems and potential solutions. Be sure to back up any problem statements or potential solutions with facts, research, and adequate forethought.

The best techniques ask participants to be methodical and challenge preconceived notions. Make sure you give the group enough time and space to collect relevant information and consider the problem in a new way. By approaching the process with a clear, rational mindset, you’ll often find that better solutions are more forthcoming.  

Try different approaches  

Problems come in all shapes and sizes and so too should the methods you use to solve them. If you find that one approach isn’t yielding results and your team isn’t finding different solutions, try mixing it up. You’ll be surprised at how using a new creative activity can unblock your team and generate great solutions.

Don’t take it personally 

Depending on the nature of your team or organizational problems, it’s easy for conversations to get heated. While it’s good for participants to be engaged in the discussions, ensure that emotions don’t run too high and that blame isn’t thrown around while finding solutions.

You’re all in it together, and even if your team or area is seeing problems, that isn’t necessarily a disparagement of you personally. Using facilitation skills to manage group dynamics is one effective method of helping conversations be more constructive.

Get the right people in the room

Your problem-solving method is often only as effective as the group using it. Getting the right people on the job and managing the number of people present is important too!

If the group is too small, you may not get enough different perspectives to effectively solve a problem. If the group is too large, you can go round and round during the ideation stages.

Creating the right group makeup is also important in ensuring you have the necessary expertise and skillset to both identify and follow up on potential solutions. Carefully consider who to include at each stage to help ensure your problem-solving method is followed and positioned for success.

Document everything

The best solutions can take refinement, iteration, and reflection to come out. Get into a habit of documenting your process in order to keep all the learnings from the session and to allow ideas to mature and develop. Many of the methods below involve the creation of documents or shared resources. Be sure to keep and share these so everyone can benefit from the work done!

Bring a facilitator 

Facilitation is all about making group processes easier. With a subject as potentially emotive and important as problem-solving, having an impartial third party in the form of a facilitator can make all the difference in finding great solutions and keeping the process moving. Consider bringing a facilitator to your problem-solving session to get better results and generate meaningful solutions!

Develop your problem-solving skills

It takes time and practice to be an effective problem solver. While some roles or participants might more naturally gravitate towards problem-solving, it can take development and planning to help everyone create better solutions.

You might develop a training program, run a problem-solving workshop or simply ask your team to practice using the techniques below. Check out our post on problem-solving skills to see how you and your group can develop the right mental process and be more resilient to issues too!

Design a great agenda

Workshops are a great format for solving problems. With the right approach, you can focus a group and help them find the solutions to their own problems. But designing a process can be time-consuming and finding the right activities can be difficult.

Check out our workshop planning guide to level-up your agenda design and start running more effective workshops. Need inspiration? Check out templates designed by expert facilitators to help you kickstart your process!

In this section, we’ll look at in-depth problem-solving methods that provide a complete end-to-end process for developing effective solutions. These will help guide your team from the discovery and definition of a problem through to delivering the right solution.

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing method or problem-solving model, these processes are a great place to start. They’ll ask your team to challenge preconceived ideas and adopt a mindset for solving problems more effectively.

• Six Thinking Hats
• Lightning Decision Jam
• Problem Definition Process
• Discovery & Action Dialogue

Design Sprint 2.0

• Open Space Technology

1. Six Thinking Hats

Individual approaches to solving a problem can be very different based on what team or role an individual holds. It can be easy for existing biases or perspectives to find their way into the mix, or for internal politics to direct a conversation.

Six Thinking Hats is a classic method for identifying the problems that need to be solved and enables your team to consider them from different angles, whether that is by focusing on facts and data, creative solutions, or by considering why a particular solution might not work.

Like all problem-solving frameworks, Six Thinking Hats is effective at helping teams remove roadblocks from a conversation or discussion and come to terms with all the aspects necessary to solve complex problems.

2. Lightning Decision Jam

Featured courtesy of Jonathan Courtney of AJ&Smart Berlin, Lightning Decision Jam is one of those strategies that should be in every facilitation toolbox. Exploring problems and finding solutions is often creative in nature, though as with any creative process, there is the potential to lose focus and get lost.

Unstructured discussions might get you there in the end, but it’s much more effective to use a method that creates a clear process and team focus.

In Lightning Decision Jam, participants are invited to begin by writing challenges, concerns, or mistakes on post-its without discussing them before then being invited by the moderator to present them to the group.

From there, the team vote on which problems to solve and are guided through steps that will allow them to reframe those problems, create solutions and then decide what to execute on. 

By deciding the problems that need to be solved as a team before moving on, this group process is great for ensuring the whole team is aligned and can take ownership over the next stages. 

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)   #action   #decision making   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #innovation   #design   #remote-friendly   The problem with anything that requires creative thinking is that it’s easy to get lost—lose focus and fall into the trap of having useless, open-ended, unstructured discussions. Here’s the most effective solution I’ve found: Replace all open, unstructured discussion with a clear process. What to use this exercise for: Anything which requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems or discuss challenges. It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic, here are some examples: The conversion flow of our checkout Our internal design process How we organise events Keeping up with our competition Improving sales flow

3. Problem Definition Process

While problems can be complex, the problem-solving methods you use to identify and solve those problems can often be simple in design. 

By taking the time to truly identify and define a problem before asking the group to reframe the challenge as an opportunity, this method is a great way to enable change.

Begin by identifying a focus question and exploring the ways in which it manifests before splitting into five teams who will each consider the problem using a different method: escape, reversal, exaggeration, distortion or wishful. Teams develop a problem objective and create ideas in line with their method before then feeding them back to the group.

This method is great for enabling in-depth discussions while also creating space for finding creative solutions too!

Problem Definition   #problem solving   #idea generation   #creativity   #online   #remote-friendly   A problem solving technique to define a problem, challenge or opportunity and to generate ideas.

4. The 5 Whys 

Sometimes, a group needs to go further with their strategies and analyze the root cause at the heart of organizational issues. An RCA or root cause analysis is the process of identifying what is at the heart of business problems or recurring challenges. 

The 5 Whys is a simple and effective method of helping a group go find the root cause of any problem or challenge and conduct analysis that will deliver results. 

By beginning with the creation of a problem statement and going through five stages to refine it, The 5 Whys provides everything you need to truly discover the cause of an issue.

The 5 Whys   #hyperisland   #innovation   This simple and powerful method is useful for getting to the core of a problem or challenge. As the title suggests, the group defines a problems, then asks the question “why” five times, often using the resulting explanation as a starting point for creative problem solving.

5. World Cafe

World Cafe is a simple but powerful facilitation technique to help bigger groups to focus their energy and attention on solving complex problems.

World Cafe enables this approach by creating a relaxed atmosphere where participants are able to self-organize and explore topics relevant and important to them which are themed around a central problem-solving purpose. Create the right atmosphere by modeling your space after a cafe and after guiding the group through the method, let them take the lead!

Making problem-solving a part of your organization’s culture in the long term can be a difficult undertaking. More approachable formats like World Cafe can be especially effective in bringing people unfamiliar with workshops into the fold. 

World Cafe   #hyperisland   #innovation   #issue analysis   World Café is a simple yet powerful method, originated by Juanita Brown, for enabling meaningful conversations driven completely by participants and the topics that are relevant and important to them. Facilitators create a cafe-style space and provide simple guidelines. Participants then self-organize and explore a set of relevant topics or questions for conversation.

6. Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)

One of the best approaches is to create a safe space for a group to share and discover practices and behaviors that can help them find their own solutions.

With DAD, you can help a group choose which problems they wish to solve and which approaches they will take to do so. It’s great at helping remove resistance to change and can help get buy-in at every level too!

This process of enabling frontline ownership is great in ensuring follow-through and is one of the methods you will want in your toolbox as a facilitator.

Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)   #idea generation   #liberating structures   #action   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   DADs make it easy for a group or community to discover practices and behaviors that enable some individuals (without access to special resources and facing the same constraints) to find better solutions than their peers to common problems. These are called positive deviant (PD) behaviors and practices. DADs make it possible for people in the group, unit, or community to discover by themselves these PD practices. DADs also create favorable conditions for stimulating participants’ creativity in spaces where they can feel safe to invent new and more effective practices. Resistance to change evaporates as participants are unleashed to choose freely which practices they will adopt or try and which problems they will tackle. DADs make it possible to achieve frontline ownership of solutions.

7. Design Sprint 2.0

Want to see how a team can solve big problems and move forward with prototyping and testing solutions in a few days? The Design Sprint 2.0 template from Jake Knapp, author of Sprint, is a complete agenda for a with proven results.

Developing the right agenda can involve difficult but necessary planning. Ensuring all the correct steps are followed can also be stressful or time-consuming depending on your level of experience.

Use this complete 4-day workshop template if you are finding there is no obvious solution to your challenge and want to focus your team around a specific problem that might require a shortcut to launching a minimum viable product or waiting for the organization-wide implementation of a solution.

8. Open space technology

Open space technology- developed by Harrison Owen – creates a space where large groups are invited to take ownership of their problem solving and lead individual sessions. Open space technology is a great format when you have a great deal of expertise and insight in the room and want to allow for different takes and approaches on a particular theme or problem you need to be solved.

Start by bringing your participants together to align around a central theme and focus their efforts. Explain the ground rules to help guide the problem-solving process and then invite members to identify any issue connecting to the central theme that they are interested in and are prepared to take responsibility for.

Once participants have decided on their approach to the core theme, they write their issue on a piece of paper, announce it to the group, pick a session time and place, and post the paper on the wall. As the wall fills up with sessions, the group is then invited to join the sessions that interest them the most and which they can contribute to, then you’re ready to begin!

Everyone joins the problem-solving group they’ve signed up to, record the discussion and if appropriate, findings can then be shared with the rest of the group afterward.

Open Space Technology   #action plan   #idea generation   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #large group   #online   #remote-friendly   Open Space is a methodology for large groups to create their agenda discerning important topics for discussion, suitable for conferences, community gatherings and whole system facilitation

Techniques to identify and analyze problems

Using a problem-solving method to help a team identify and analyze a problem can be a quick and effective addition to any workshop or meeting.

While further actions are always necessary, you can generate momentum and alignment easily, and these activities are a great place to get started.

We’ve put together this list of techniques to help you and your team with problem identification, analysis, and discussion that sets the foundation for developing effective solutions.

Let’s take a look!

• The Creativity Dice
• Fishbone Analysis
• Problem Tree
• SWOT Analysis
• Agreement-Certainty Matrix
• The Journalistic Six
• LEGO Challenge
• What, So What, Now What?
• Journalists

Individual and group perspectives are incredibly important, but what happens if people are set in their minds and need a change of perspective in order to approach a problem more effectively?

Flip It is a method we love because it is both simple to understand and run, and allows groups to understand how their perspectives and biases are formed. 

Participants in Flip It are first invited to consider concerns, issues, or problems from a perspective of fear and write them on a flip chart. Then, the group is asked to consider those same issues from a perspective of hope and flip their understanding.  

No problem and solution is free from existing bias and by changing perspectives with Flip It, you can then develop a problem solving model quickly and effectively.

Flip It!   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Often, a change in a problem or situation comes simply from a change in our perspectives. Flip It! is a quick game designed to show players that perspectives are made, not born.

10. The Creativity Dice

One of the most useful problem solving skills you can teach your team is of approaching challenges with creativity, flexibility, and openness. Games like The Creativity Dice allow teams to overcome the potential hurdle of too much linear thinking and approach the process with a sense of fun and speed. 

In The Creativity Dice, participants are organized around a topic and roll a dice to determine what they will work on for a period of 3 minutes at a time. They might roll a 3 and work on investigating factual information on the chosen topic. They might roll a 1 and work on identifying the specific goals, standards, or criteria for the session.

Encouraging rapid work and iteration while asking participants to be flexible are great skills to cultivate. Having a stage for idea incubation in this game is also important. Moments of pause can help ensure the ideas that are put forward are the most suitable. 

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

11. Fishbone Analysis

Organizational or team challenges are rarely simple, and it’s important to remember that one problem can be an indication of something that goes deeper and may require further consideration to be solved.

Fishbone Analysis helps groups to dig deeper and understand the origins of a problem. It’s a great example of a root cause analysis method that is simple for everyone on a team to get their head around. 

Participants in this activity are asked to annotate a diagram of a fish, first adding the problem or issue to be worked on at the head of a fish before then brainstorming the root causes of the problem and adding them as bones on the fish. 

Using abstractions such as a diagram of a fish can really help a team break out of their regular thinking and develop a creative approach.

Fishbone Analysis   #problem solving   ##root cause analysis   #decision making   #online facilitation   A process to help identify and understand the origins of problems, issues or observations.

12. Problem Tree 

Encouraging visual thinking can be an essential part of many strategies. By simply reframing and clarifying problems, a group can move towards developing a problem solving model that works for them. 

In Problem Tree, groups are asked to first brainstorm a list of problems – these can be design problems, team problems or larger business problems – and then organize them into a hierarchy. The hierarchy could be from most important to least important or abstract to practical, though the key thing with problem solving games that involve this aspect is that your group has some way of managing and sorting all the issues that are raised.

Once you have a list of problems that need to be solved and have organized them accordingly, you’re then well-positioned for the next problem solving steps.

Problem tree   #define intentions   #create   #design   #issue analysis   A problem tree is a tool to clarify the hierarchy of problems addressed by the team within a design project; it represents high level problems or related sublevel problems.

13. SWOT Analysis

Chances are you’ve heard of the SWOT Analysis before. This problem-solving method focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is a tried and tested method for both individuals and teams.

Start by creating a desired end state or outcome and bare this in mind – any process solving model is made more effective by knowing what you are moving towards. Create a quadrant made up of the four categories of a SWOT analysis and ask participants to generate ideas based on each of those quadrants.

Once you have those ideas assembled in their quadrants, cluster them together based on their affinity with other ideas. These clusters are then used to facilitate group conversations and move things forward. 

SWOT analysis   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   #meeting facilitation   The SWOT Analysis is a long-standing technique of looking at what we have, with respect to the desired end state, as well as what we could improve on. It gives us an opportunity to gauge approaching opportunities and dangers, and assess the seriousness of the conditions that affect our future. When we understand those conditions, we can influence what comes next.

14. Agreement-Certainty Matrix

Not every problem-solving approach is right for every challenge, and deciding on the right method for the challenge at hand is a key part of being an effective team.

The Agreement Certainty matrix helps teams align on the nature of the challenges facing them. By sorting problems from simple to chaotic, your team can understand what methods are suitable for each problem and what they can do to ensure effective results. 

If you are already using Liberating Structures techniques as part of your problem-solving strategy, the Agreement-Certainty Matrix can be an invaluable addition to your process. We’ve found it particularly if you are having issues with recurring problems in your organization and want to go deeper in understanding the root cause. 

Agreement-Certainty Matrix   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   #problem solving   You can help individuals or groups avoid the frequent mistake of trying to solve a problem with methods that are not adapted to the nature of their challenge. The combination of two questions makes it possible to easily sort challenges into four categories: simple, complicated, complex , and chaotic .  A problem is simple when it can be solved reliably with practices that are easy to duplicate.  It is complicated when experts are required to devise a sophisticated solution that will yield the desired results predictably.  A problem is complex when there are several valid ways to proceed but outcomes are not predictable in detail.  Chaotic is when the context is too turbulent to identify a path forward.  A loose analogy may be used to describe these differences: simple is like following a recipe, complicated like sending a rocket to the moon, complex like raising a child, and chaotic is like the game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  The Liberating Structures Matching Matrix in Chapter 5 can be used as the first step to clarify the nature of a challenge and avoid the mismatches between problems and solutions that are frequently at the root of chronic, recurring problems.

Organizing and charting a team’s progress can be important in ensuring its success. SQUID (Sequential Question and Insight Diagram) is a great model that allows a team to effectively switch between giving questions and answers and develop the skills they need to stay on track throughout the process. 

Begin with two different colored sticky notes – one for questions and one for answers – and with your central topic (the head of the squid) on the board. Ask the group to first come up with a series of questions connected to their best guess of how to approach the topic. Ask the group to come up with answers to those questions, fix them to the board and connect them with a line. After some discussion, go back to question mode by responding to the generated answers or other points on the board.

It’s rewarding to see a diagram grow throughout the exercise, and a completed SQUID can provide a visual resource for future effort and as an example for other teams.

SQUID   #gamestorming   #project planning   #issue analysis   #problem solving   When exploring an information space, it’s important for a group to know where they are at any given time. By using SQUID, a group charts out the territory as they go and can navigate accordingly. SQUID stands for Sequential Question and Insight Diagram.

16. Speed Boat

To continue with our nautical theme, Speed Boat is a short and sweet activity that can help a team quickly identify what employees, clients or service users might have a problem with and analyze what might be standing in the way of achieving a solution.

Methods that allow for a group to make observations, have insights and obtain those eureka moments quickly are invaluable when trying to solve complex problems.

In Speed Boat, the approach is to first consider what anchors and challenges might be holding an organization (or boat) back. Bonus points if you are able to identify any sharks in the water and develop ideas that can also deal with competitors!   

Speed Boat   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Speedboat is a short and sweet way to identify what your employees or clients don’t like about your product/service or what’s standing in the way of a desired goal.

17. The Journalistic Six

Some of the most effective ways of solving problems is by encouraging teams to be more inclusive and diverse in their thinking.

Based on the six key questions journalism students are taught to answer in articles and news stories, The Journalistic Six helps create teams to see the whole picture. By using who, what, when, where, why, and how to facilitate the conversation and encourage creative thinking, your team can make sure that the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the are covered exhaustively and thoughtfully. Reporter’s notebook and dictaphone optional.

The Journalistic Six – Who What When Where Why How   #idea generation   #issue analysis   #problem solving   #online   #creative thinking   #remote-friendly   A questioning method for generating, explaining, investigating ideas.

18. LEGO Challenge

Now for an activity that is a little out of the (toy) box. LEGO Serious Play is a facilitation methodology that can be used to improve creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

The LEGO Challenge includes giving each member of the team an assignment that is hidden from the rest of the group while they create a structure without speaking.

What the LEGO challenge brings to the table is a fun working example of working with stakeholders who might not be on the same page to solve problems. Also, it’s LEGO! Who doesn’t love LEGO! 

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

19. What, So What, Now What?

If not carefully managed, the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the problem-solving process can actually create more problems and misunderstandings.

The What, So What, Now What? problem-solving activity is designed to help collect insights and move forward while also eliminating the possibility of disagreement when it comes to identifying, clarifying, and analyzing organizational or work problems. 

Facilitation is all about bringing groups together so that might work on a shared goal and the best problem-solving strategies ensure that teams are aligned in purpose, if not initially in opinion or insight.

Throughout the three steps of this game, you give everyone on a team to reflect on a problem by asking what happened, why it is important, and what actions should then be taken. 

This can be a great activity for bringing our individual perceptions about a problem or challenge and contextualizing it in a larger group setting. This is one of the most important problem-solving skills you can bring to your organization.

W³ – What, So What, Now What?   #issue analysis   #innovation   #liberating structures   You can help groups reflect on a shared experience in a way that builds understanding and spurs coordinated action while avoiding unproductive conflict. It is possible for every voice to be heard while simultaneously sifting for insights and shaping new direction. Progressing in stages makes this practical—from collecting facts about What Happened to making sense of these facts with So What and finally to what actions logically follow with Now What . The shared progression eliminates most of the misunderstandings that otherwise fuel disagreements about what to do. Voila!

20. Journalists  

Problem analysis can be one of the most important and decisive stages of all problem-solving tools. Sometimes, a team can become bogged down in the details and are unable to move forward.

Journalists is an activity that can avoid a group from getting stuck in the problem identification or problem analysis stages of the process.

In Journalists, the group is invited to draft the front page of a fictional newspaper and figure out what stories deserve to be on the cover and what headlines those stories will have. By reframing how your problems and challenges are approached, you can help a team move productively through the process and be better prepared for the steps to follow.

Journalists   #vision   #big picture   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   This is an exercise to use when the group gets stuck in details and struggles to see the big picture. Also good for defining a vision.

Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions 

The success of any problem-solving process can be measured by the solutions it produces. After you’ve defined the issue, explored existing ideas, and ideated, it’s time to narrow down to the correct solution.

Use these problem-solving techniques when you want to help your team find consensus, compare possible solutions, and move towards taking action on a particular problem.

• Improved Solutions
• Four-Step Sketch
• 15% Solutions
• How-Now-Wow matrix
• Impact Effort Matrix

21. Mindspin  

Brainstorming is part of the bread and butter of the problem-solving process and all problem-solving strategies benefit from getting ideas out and challenging a team to generate solutions quickly. 

With Mindspin, participants are encouraged not only to generate ideas but to do so under time constraints and by slamming down cards and passing them on. By doing multiple rounds, your team can begin with a free generation of possible solutions before moving on to developing those solutions and encouraging further ideation. 

This is one of our favorite problem-solving activities and can be great for keeping the energy up throughout the workshop. Remember the importance of helping people become engaged in the process – energizing problem-solving techniques like Mindspin can help ensure your team stays engaged and happy, even when the problems they’re coming together to solve are complex. 

MindSpin   #teampedia   #idea generation   #problem solving   #action   A fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

22. Improved Solutions

After a team has successfully identified a problem and come up with a few solutions, it can be tempting to call the work of the problem-solving process complete. That said, the first solution is not necessarily the best, and by including a further review and reflection activity into your problem-solving model, you can ensure your group reaches the best possible result. 

One of a number of problem-solving games from Thiagi Group, Improved Solutions helps you go the extra mile and develop suggested solutions with close consideration and peer review. By supporting the discussion of several problems at once and by shifting team roles throughout, this problem-solving technique is a dynamic way of finding the best solution. 

Improved Solutions   #creativity   #thiagi   #problem solving   #action   #team   You can improve any solution by objectively reviewing its strengths and weaknesses and making suitable adjustments. In this creativity framegame, you improve the solutions to several problems. To maintain objective detachment, you deal with a different problem during each of six rounds and assume different roles (problem owner, consultant, basher, booster, enhancer, and evaluator) during each round. At the conclusion of the activity, each player ends up with two solutions to her problem.

23. Four Step Sketch

Creative thinking and visual ideation does not need to be confined to the opening stages of your problem-solving strategies. Exercises that include sketching and prototyping on paper can be effective at the solution finding and development stage of the process, and can be great for keeping a team engaged. 

By going from simple notes to a crazy 8s round that involves rapidly sketching 8 variations on their ideas before then producing a final solution sketch, the group is able to iterate quickly and visually. Problem-solving techniques like Four-Step Sketch are great if you have a group of different thinkers and want to change things up from a more textual or discussion-based approach.

Four-Step Sketch   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   The four-step sketch is an exercise that helps people to create well-formed concepts through a structured process that includes: Review key information Start design work on paper,  Consider multiple variations , Create a detailed solution . This exercise is preceded by a set of other activities allowing the group to clarify the challenge they want to solve. See how the Four Step Sketch exercise fits into a Design Sprint

24. 15% Solutions

Some problems are simpler than others and with the right problem-solving activities, you can empower people to take immediate actions that can help create organizational change. 

Part of the liberating structures toolkit, 15% solutions is a problem-solving technique that focuses on finding and implementing solutions quickly. A process of iterating and making small changes quickly can help generate momentum and an appetite for solving complex problems.

Problem-solving strategies can live and die on whether people are onboard. Getting some quick wins is a great way of getting people behind the process.   

It can be extremely empowering for a team to realize that problem-solving techniques can be deployed quickly and easily and delineate between things they can positively impact and those things they cannot change. 

15% Solutions   #action   #liberating structures   #remote-friendly   You can reveal the actions, however small, that everyone can do immediately. At a minimum, these will create momentum, and that may make a BIG difference.  15% Solutions show that there is no reason to wait around, feel powerless, or fearful. They help people pick it up a level. They get individuals and the group to focus on what is within their discretion instead of what they cannot change.  With a very simple question, you can flip the conversation to what can be done and find solutions to big problems that are often distributed widely in places not known in advance. Shifting a few grains of sand may trigger a landslide and change the whole landscape.

25. How-Now-Wow Matrix

The problem-solving process is often creative, as complex problems usually require a change of thinking and creative response in order to find the best solutions. While it’s common for the first stages to encourage creative thinking, groups can often gravitate to familiar solutions when it comes to the end of the process. 

When selecting solutions, you don’t want to lose your creative energy! The How-Now-Wow Matrix from Gamestorming is a great problem-solving activity that enables a group to stay creative and think out of the box when it comes to selecting the right solution for a given problem.

Problem-solving techniques that encourage creative thinking and the ideation and selection of new solutions can be the most effective in organisational change. Give the How-Now-Wow Matrix a go, and not just for how pleasant it is to say out loud. 

How-Now-Wow Matrix   #gamestorming   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   When people want to develop new ideas, they most often think out of the box in the brainstorming or divergent phase. However, when it comes to convergence, people often end up picking ideas that are most familiar to them. This is called a ‘creative paradox’ or a ‘creadox’. The How-Now-Wow matrix is an idea selection tool that breaks the creadox by forcing people to weigh each idea on 2 parameters.

26. Impact and Effort Matrix

All problem-solving techniques hope to not only find solutions to a given problem or challenge but to find the best solution. When it comes to finding a solution, groups are invited to put on their decision-making hats and really think about how a proposed idea would work in practice. 

The Impact and Effort Matrix is one of the problem-solving techniques that fall into this camp, empowering participants to first generate ideas and then categorize them into a 2×2 matrix based on impact and effort.

Activities that invite critical thinking while remaining simple are invaluable. Use the Impact and Effort Matrix to move from ideation and towards evaluating potential solutions before then committing to them. 

Impact and Effort Matrix   #gamestorming   #decision making   #action   #remote-friendly   In this decision-making exercise, possible actions are mapped based on two factors: effort required to implement and potential impact. Categorizing ideas along these lines is a useful technique in decision making, as it obliges contributors to balance and evaluate suggested actions before committing to them.

27. Dotmocracy

If you’ve followed each of the problem-solving steps with your group successfully, you should move towards the end of your process with heaps of possible solutions developed with a specific problem in mind. But how do you help a group go from ideation to putting a solution into action? 

Dotmocracy – or Dot Voting -is a tried and tested method of helping a team in the problem-solving process make decisions and put actions in place with a degree of oversight and consensus. 

One of the problem-solving techniques that should be in every facilitator’s toolbox, Dot Voting is fast and effective and can help identify the most popular and best solutions and help bring a group to a decision effectively. 

Dotmocracy   #action   #decision making   #group prioritization   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Dotmocracy is a simple method for group prioritization or decision-making. It is not an activity on its own, but a method to use in processes where prioritization or decision-making is the aim. The method supports a group to quickly see which options are most popular or relevant. The options or ideas are written on post-its and stuck up on a wall for the whole group to see. Each person votes for the options they think are the strongest, and that information is used to inform a decision.

All facilitators know that warm-ups and icebreakers are useful for any workshop or group process. Problem-solving workshops are no different.

Use these problem-solving techniques to warm up a group and prepare them for the rest of the process. Activating your group by tapping into some of the top problem-solving skills can be one of the best ways to see great outcomes from your session.

• Check-in/Check-out
• Doodling Together
• Show and Tell
• Constellations
• Draw a Tree

28. Check-in / Check-out

Solid processes are planned from beginning to end, and the best facilitators know that setting the tone and establishing a safe, open environment can be integral to a successful problem-solving process.

Check-in / Check-out is a great way to begin and/or bookend a problem-solving workshop. Checking in to a session emphasizes that everyone will be seen, heard, and expected to contribute. 

If you are running a series of meetings, setting a consistent pattern of checking in and checking out can really help your team get into a groove. We recommend this opening-closing activity for small to medium-sized groups though it can work with large groups if they’re disciplined!

Check-in / Check-out   #team   #opening   #closing   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Either checking-in or checking-out is a simple way for a team to open or close a process, symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, and to express a reflection or a feeling. Checking-in emphasizes presence, focus and group commitment; checking-out emphasizes reflection and symbolic closure.

29. Doodling Together  

Thinking creatively and not being afraid to make suggestions are important problem-solving skills for any group or team, and warming up by encouraging these behaviors is a great way to start. 

Doodling Together is one of our favorite creative ice breaker games – it’s quick, effective, and fun and can make all following problem-solving steps easier by encouraging a group to collaborate visually. By passing cards and adding additional items as they go, the workshop group gets into a groove of co-creation and idea development that is crucial to finding solutions to problems. 

Doodling Together   #collaboration   #creativity   #teamwork   #fun   #team   #visual methods   #energiser   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Create wild, weird and often funny postcards together & establish a group’s creative confidence.

30. Show and Tell

You might remember some version of Show and Tell from being a kid in school and it’s a great problem-solving activity to kick off a session.

Asking participants to prepare a little something before a workshop by bringing an object for show and tell can help them warm up before the session has even begun! Games that include a physical object can also help encourage early engagement before moving onto more big-picture thinking.

By asking your participants to tell stories about why they chose to bring a particular item to the group, you can help teams see things from new perspectives and see both differences and similarities in the way they approach a topic. Great groundwork for approaching a problem-solving process as a team! 

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

31. Constellations

Who doesn’t love stars? Constellations is a great warm-up activity for any workshop as it gets people up off their feet, energized, and ready to engage in new ways with established topics. It’s also great for showing existing beliefs, biases, and patterns that can come into play as part of your session.

Using warm-up games that help build trust and connection while also allowing for non-verbal responses can be great for easing people into the problem-solving process and encouraging engagement from everyone in the group. Constellations is great in large spaces that allow for movement and is definitely a practical exercise to allow the group to see patterns that are otherwise invisible. 

Constellations   #trust   #connection   #opening   #coaching   #patterns   #system   Individuals express their response to a statement or idea by standing closer or further from a central object. Used with teams to reveal system, hidden patterns, perspectives.

32. Draw a Tree

Problem-solving games that help raise group awareness through a central, unifying metaphor can be effective ways to warm-up a group in any problem-solving model.

Draw a Tree is a simple warm-up activity you can use in any group and which can provide a quick jolt of energy. Start by asking your participants to draw a tree in just 45 seconds – they can choose whether it will be abstract or realistic. 

Once the timer is up, ask the group how many people included the roots of the tree and use this as a means to discuss how we can ignore important parts of any system simply because they are not visible.

All problem-solving strategies are made more effective by thinking of problems critically and by exposing things that may not normally come to light. Warm-up games like Draw a Tree are great in that they quickly demonstrate some key problem-solving skills in an accessible and effective way.

Draw a Tree   #thiagi   #opening   #perspectives   #remote-friendly   With this game you can raise awarness about being more mindful, and aware of the environment we live in.

Each step of the problem-solving workshop benefits from an intelligent deployment of activities, games, and techniques. Bringing your session to an effective close helps ensure that solutions are followed through on and that you also celebrate what has been achieved.

Here are some problem-solving activities you can use to effectively close a workshop or meeting and ensure the great work you’ve done can continue afterward.

• One Breath Feedback
• Who What When Matrix
• Response Cards

How do I conclude a problem-solving process?

All good things must come to an end. With the bulk of the work done, it can be tempting to conclude your workshop swiftly and without a moment to debrief and align. This can be problematic in that it doesn’t allow your team to fully process the results or reflect on the process.

At the end of an effective session, your team will have gone through a process that, while productive, can be exhausting. It’s important to give your group a moment to take a breath, ensure that they are clear on future actions, and provide short feedback before leaving the space. 

The primary purpose of any problem-solving method is to generate solutions and then implement them. Be sure to take the opportunity to ensure everyone is aligned and ready to effectively implement the solutions you produced in the workshop.

Remember that every process can be improved and by giving a short moment to collect feedback in the session, you can further refine your problem-solving methods and see further success in the future too.

33. One Breath Feedback

Maintaining attention and focus during the closing stages of a problem-solving workshop can be tricky and so being concise when giving feedback can be important. It’s easy to incur “death by feedback” should some team members go on for too long sharing their perspectives in a quick feedback round. 

One Breath Feedback is a great closing activity for workshops. You give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback on what they’ve done but only in the space of a single breath. This keeps feedback short and to the point and means that everyone is encouraged to provide the most important piece of feedback to them. 

One breath feedback   #closing   #feedback   #action   This is a feedback round in just one breath that excels in maintaining attention: each participants is able to speak during just one breath … for most people that’s around 20 to 25 seconds … unless of course you’ve been a deep sea diver in which case you’ll be able to do it for longer.

34. Who What When Matrix 

Matrices feature as part of many effective problem-solving strategies and with good reason. They are easily recognizable, simple to use, and generate results.

The Who What When Matrix is a great tool to use when closing your problem-solving session by attributing a who, what and when to the actions and solutions you have decided upon. The resulting matrix is a simple, easy-to-follow way of ensuring your team can move forward. 

Great solutions can’t be enacted without action and ownership. Your problem-solving process should include a stage for allocating tasks to individuals or teams and creating a realistic timeframe for those solutions to be implemented or checked out. Use this method to keep the solution implementation process clear and simple for all involved. 

Who/What/When Matrix   #gamestorming   #action   #project planning   With Who/What/When matrix, you can connect people with clear actions they have defined and have committed to.

35. Response cards

Group discussion can comprise the bulk of most problem-solving activities and by the end of the process, you might find that your team is talked out! 

Providing a means for your team to give feedback with short written notes can ensure everyone is head and can contribute without the need to stand up and talk. Depending on the needs of the group, giving an alternative can help ensure everyone can contribute to your problem-solving model in the way that makes the most sense for them.

Response Cards is a great way to close a workshop if you are looking for a gentle warm-down and want to get some swift discussion around some of the feedback that is raised. 

Response Cards   #debriefing   #closing   #structured sharing   #questions and answers   #thiagi   #action   It can be hard to involve everyone during a closing of a session. Some might stay in the background or get unheard because of louder participants. However, with the use of Response Cards, everyone will be involved in providing feedback or clarify questions at the end of a session.

Save time and effort discovering the right solutions

A structured problem solving process is a surefire way of solving tough problems, discovering creative solutions and driving organizational change. But how can you design for successful outcomes?

With SessionLab, it’s easy to design engaging workshops that deliver results. Drag, drop and reorder blocks  to build your agenda. When you make changes or update your agenda, your session  timing   adjusts automatically , saving you time on manual adjustments.

Collaborating with stakeholders or clients? Share your agenda with a single click and collaborate in real-time. No more sending documents back and forth over email.

Explore  how to use SessionLab  to design effective problem solving workshops or  watch this five minute video  to see the planner in action!

Over to you

The problem-solving process can often be as complicated and multifaceted as the problems they are set-up to solve. With the right problem-solving techniques and a mix of creative exercises designed to guide discussion and generate purposeful ideas, we hope we’ve given you the tools to find the best solutions as simply and easily as possible.

Is there a problem-solving technique that you are missing here? Do you have a favorite activity or method you use when facilitating? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you! 

thank you very much for these excellent techniques

Certainly wonderful article, very detailed. Shared!

Your list of techniques for problem solving can be helpfully extended by adding TRIZ to the list of techniques. TRIZ has 40 problem solving techniques derived from methods inventros and patent holders used to get new patents. About 10-12 are general approaches. many organization sponsor classes in TRIZ that are used to solve business problems or general organiztational problems. You can take a look at TRIZ and dwonload a free internet booklet to see if you feel it shound be included per your selection process.

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Piano Assistenziale

Giudizio clinico dell'infermiere, la diagnosi infermieristica

Pubblicato il 21.05.18 di Francesca Gianfrancesco Aggiornato il 21.05.18

La Diagnosi Infermieristica ( DI ) costituisce la base sulla quale l’infermiere attua specifici interventi volti a raggiungere gli outcomes di cui è responsabile, in ragione delle sue competenze e autonomia. La diagnosi infermieristica è l’espressione dello stato di salute della persona, esprime il giudizio professionale infermieristico sulle sue condizioni, identificando alterazioni e debolezze, capacità e punti di forza. È una fase nodale del processo di nursing e costituisce l’estensione logica della raccolta dati relativi all’accertamento. Fare diagnosi infermieristica vuol dire identificare le risposte, i segni e i sintomi che indicano un effettivo o potenziale problema di salute e pianificare le cure più appropriate per risolverlo.

Le Diagnosi Infermieristiche nel processo di assistenza

La diagnosi infermieristica è il giudizio clinico dell'infermiere

“ Dia ” e “ Gnosis ” ovvero conoscenza attraverso i segni . Le Diagnosi Infermieristiche descrivono la risposta umana (segni), reale o potenziale, ad un problema di salute per il quale l’infermiere ha la competenza di trattamento in autonomia.

La diagnosi infermieristica costituisce la seconda fase del processo di nursing , che è un approccio scientifico per la risoluzione dei problemi assistenziali legati alla persona, basato sulla applicazione del problem solving.

Per l’infermiere il processo di nursing è un metodo determinante per acquisire capacità decisionali. È costituito da 5 fasi:

• Raccolta dati
• Elaborazione dei dati e formulazione della diagnosi infermieristica
• Disposizione degli obiettivi
• Attuazione degli interventi
• Valutazione (esiti e processo).

La raccolta dati o accertamento infermieristico  avviene in una visione olistica durante ogni interazione tra infermiere e paziente tramite l’ osservazione , il colloquio-intervista  (anche con il caregiver), l’ esame fisico  e la consultazione di altre fonti disponibili come la documentazione clinica.

Per organizzare i dati si possono usare i modelli infermieristici di riferimento. Tutti i dati raccolti devono essere ripartiti nei vari ambiti o modelli al fine di determinare quali siano funzionali (punti di forza della persona) e quali disfunzionali (diagnosi infermieristiche).

La formulazione della fase successiva del processo di nursing, la Diagnosi Infermieristica, appare quindi un’estensione sistematica della elaborazione dei dati.

Definire le Diagnosi Infermieristiche

Il concetto di diagnosi è sempre stato accostato in modo esclusivo all’attività medica, ma per definizione la diagnosi è l’accurato studio critico di qualcosa allo scopo di determinarne la natura .

Virginia Fry fu la prima ad invertire questa convinzione parlando in un articolo scientifico di Diagnosi Infermieristica, nel 1953. Ma solo vent’anni dopo, nel 1973, l’ American Nurse Association ( ANA ) approvò l’adozione delle diagnosi infermieristiche.

Sono diverse le definizioni di Diagnosi Infermieristica che si trovano in letteratura:

• Problemi di salute attuali o potenziali che gli infermieri, in virtù della loro preparazione ed esperienza, sono capaci di trattare ed abilitati a farlo (Gordon, 1982)
• Un’affermazione che descrive una risposta umana di una persona o di un gruppo, che l’infermiere è abilitato a riconoscere e per la quale può prescrivere interventi risolutivi che mirano a mantenere lo stato di salute o a ridurre, eliminare o prevenire le alterazioni (Carpenito, 1988)

La North American Nursing Diagnosis Association

La NANDA è l’istituzione ufficiale per la promozione e la revisione delle diagnosi infermieristiche, nonché punto di raccolta ed elaborazione.

NANDA International esiste per sviluppare, perfezionare e promuovere il sistema linguistico che riflette in modo accurato i giudizi clinici degli infermieri, con lo scopo di organizzare le conoscenze infermieristiche attraverso un linguaggio condiviso e universale, le diagnosi infermieristiche appunto.

Le Diagnosi Infermieristiche, dunque, consentono di avere un linguaggio comune, rappresentano un mezzo di comunicazione univoco, stabiliscono un sistema che facilmente si presta all’informatizzazione e facilitano l’assistenza personalizzata.

Tutte le diagnosi infermieristiche contenute nei testi della NANDA (235 nella edizione 2015-2017, ultima tradotta in italiano) sono basate su evidenze scientifiche e sono approvate da infermieri esperti clinici, ricercatori  e docenti .

Alcune critiche sono state mosse riguardo determinate diagnosi infermieristiche di dubbia competenza esclusiva dell’infermiere come ad esempio “riduzione della gittata cardiaca” piuttosto che “inefficace perfusione tissutale”.

A tal proposito interessante è stata la risposta di L. J. Carpenito con il suo “modello bifocale di assistenza infermieristica” secondo il quale gli infermieri dispongono di competenze atte sia a pianificare le diagnosi infermieristiche sia ad occuparsi di “ problemi collaborativi ”, ovvero condizioni riguardanti l’assistito che sono direttamente correlate a problemi medici e che vanno affrontati in stretta collaborazione con gli stessi.

Quello NANDA non è l’unico sistema di classificazione standardizzato delle diagnosi infermieristiche, ma sicuramente quello più riconosciuto e sempre più ricerche accreditate in ambito infermieristico poggiano sulle diagnosi nordamericane.

Le altre sono state proposte International Nursing Concil, ICNP e la NDEC (Nursing Diagnosis Exstensionand Classification).

La struttura delle Diagnosi Infermieristiche

La struttura della diagnosi infermieristica si compone di quattro elementi essenziali al fine di adottare un linguaggio infermieristico univoco.

Gli elementi componenti sono: titolo. definizione, caratteristiche definenti, fattori correlati.

Il titolo deve “qualificare” il problema, comprende quindi un qualificatore o descrittore, cioè un termine che fa distinguere immediatamente le diagnosi:

• le diagnosi reali hanno un qualificatore negativo (es. inefficace, mancanza, deficit, alterato);
• le diagnosi di rischio presuppongono un qualificatore specifico (rischio di);
• le diagnosi di benessere contengono un qualificatore positivo (es. efficace, potenziale miglioramento)
• le diagnosi a sindrome presuppongono un qualificatore specifico (sindrome da).

Nel titolo deve poi essere presente un termine che richiama il modello funzionale della salute (ad esempio la mobilità riferita al modello attività-esercizio fisico) e uno che potrebbe riferirsi all'unità di assistenza (individuo, comunità, famiglia). Attenersi a questo tipo di disposizione permette di evitare l’utilizzo di termini soggettivi .

Definizione

La definizione ci permette di esprimere in modo categorico, comprensibile ed esplicito il significato della diagnosi, così da distinguere quelle che possono assomigliarsi.

Caratteristiche definenti

Le caratteristiche definenti sono l’equivalente dei segni e dei sintomi, ovvero corrispondono a manifestazioni osservabili o riferibili di quella data condizione.

Si dividono in:

• maggiori o principali , definite come indicatori critici presenti nell’80-100% dei casi
• minori o secondarie , definite come indicatori di supporto (forniscono prove di sostegno per le diagnosi, ma possono non essere presenti) presenti nel 50-70% delle situazioni.

Le caratteristiche definenti non sono presenti nella struttura delle diagnosi di rischio, dove invece troviamo i fattori di rischio.

Fattori correlati

I fattori correlati sono in pratica le cause, i fattori eziologici che determinano una data condizione. Possono essere suddivise in quattro categorie:

• fisiopatologici (biologici o psichici)
• situazionali (ambientali, sociali, personali)
• fasi maturative (legati all’età)
• trattamenti (terapie, interventi)

L’uso intenzionale di locuzioni come caratteristiche definenti e fattori correlati al posto di segni e sintomi e di eziologia, permette di utilizzare un linguaggio specifico professionale, ma diverso da quello medico.

Linee guida per utilizzo Diagnosi Infermieristiche NANDA

Linee guida per l’utilizzo delle DI NANDA-I:

• Usa una o più teorie infermieristiche per guidare i tuoi approcci filosofici e teorici dell’assistenza infermieristica
• In base al modello teorico di assistenza infermieristica che hai scelto, effettua l’ accertamento (LINK) (o gli accertamenti) della persona per identificare i problemi di salute, gli stati di rischio, la disponibilità alla promozione della salute e del benessere al fine di implementare le successive fasi dell’assistenza infermieristica.
• Durante l’accertamento (o gli accertamenti) usa le 7 capacità cognitive e le 10 abitudini del pensiero critico insieme con i processi della persona che sta ricevendo l’assistenza infermieristica.
• Conduci accertamenti mirati per identificare le specifiche risposte che la persona sta probabilmente sperimentando, considerando il contesto situazionale.
• Raccogli una quantità sufficiente di dati di elevata e media importanza per sostenere o respingere (rule in o rule out) le specifiche diagnosi prese in considerazione.
• Confronta i dati dell’accertamento con le DI standardizzate NANDA, cioè i titoli, le definizioni e le caratteristiche definenti.
• Appena raccogli i dati considera altre possibili diagnosi.
• Quando è possibile, considerando il contesto situazionale, valida le impressioni diagnostiche con l’individuo a la famiglia.
• Se c’è più di una diagnosi assegna la priorità.
• Comunica agli altri verbalmente o per iscritto la diagnosi o le diagnosi prioritarie come base per pianificare risultati ed interventi.

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Commenti (6)

MA ISCRIVERSI IN MEDICINA NO? No proprio per non essere medico come lei!

Mi sono iscritto oggi solo per rispondere ad un commento : Mi chiedo cosa ci faccia, Francescom, in un forum infermieristico. E' qui per confrontarsi ed "imparare" ad interagire con i teams assistenziali o sta qui solo polemizzare e affermare una sua presunta superiorità? Si aggiorni, perché un medico arrogante e poco incline a condividere esperienze e farne tesoro, è un medico fine a se stesso: dannoso per la comunità! PS: esistono diagnosi mediche e diagnosi infermieristiche, che magari, vi aiutano a far meno figure meschine! S'informi

24 octobre 2023 - 15h50

La corretta coesione tra medici e infermieri

Salve, stavo cercando una corretta definizione di diagnosi infermieristica ed ho trovato questo bellissimo "post" di nurse24.it, ad un certo punto ho letto per sbaglio o per fortuna i vostri commenti, bene, volevo dire la mia senza dilungarmi troppo anche perchè devo studiare visto l'esame che ho tra pochi giorni. Innanzitutto volevo dire al egregio Dott. Francescom che le diagnosi infermieristiche esistono e sono indispensabili per una corretta assistenza da parte degli infermieri verso gli utenti, se lei non è al corrente è semplicemente perchè queste sono prettamente infermieristiche quindi autonome (senza problemi collaborativi) esse infatti vengono gestite tramite i NIC e i NOC per poi essere riportate nella cartella infermieristica, se lei non è al corrente di questa trascrizione successivo al intervento infermieristico, è pregato di sollecitarlo al coordinatore infermieristico. Una cosa importante che ho capito fin dall'inizio della mia carriera da studente e che non esiste medico senza infermiere e non esiste infermiere senza medico, siete entrambi indispensabili per ripristinare i corretti standard di salute e di bisogno dell'utente. quindi quando un paziente ringrazia il medico o l'infermiere in realtà sta ringraziando tutto ciò che lo circonda a partire da operatori con "meno responsabilità" come il portantino o la ditta di pulizie a quelli con maggiore responsabilità come il Dirigente sanitario se non il Ministro della Salute. siete tutti indispensabili, nessuno è più importante dell'altro. Nel mio ancora breve cammino verso quella che è la mia prospettiva ideale di vita, cioè quella di affiancare i malati come e solo le più grandi teoriche ci hanno illustrato mi sento in dovere di dirvi ricordatevi sempre che siete li solo e soltanto per uno scopo, quello di aiutare il prossimo. infine domani mattina a lavoro guardatevi attorno e chiedetevi:"come posso svolgere correttamente e serenamente il mio lavoro se una delle altre categorie venisse a mancare?"

26 septembre 2019 - 17h50

La corretta coesione tra medici e infermieri 2

Ringrazio entrambi per il vostro sostegno e per il vostro lavoro. spero di incontrarvi nel mio cammino e spero voi riusciate a metterci la stessa grinta e gli stessi ideali che vi hanno spinto a scegliere questo tenore di vita. Buona serata, ritorno a studiare. AD MAIORA SEMPER

26 septembre 2019 - 17h15

45 commenti

Con tutto il rispetto...

...ció che crede è irrilevante. I medici godono della fiducia e della gratitudine dei pazienti che salvano ogni giorno. Che lei veda i medici come fredde macchine, snob, lontane dai pazienti e dalla loro sofferenza è un problema solo suo

24 novembre 2018 - 21h27

Caro Medico

Caro medico, dalla mia poca o tanta (chi lo sa) esperienza in reparto, ho solo potuto appurare come noi Infermieri gestiamo letteralmente tutto del paziente, dalla psiche alla salute. La vostra presenza spesso forzata nelle stanza e la vostra noncuranza del paziente in quanto tale, che vi porta il 90% delle volte a chiedere il nome del paziente anche dopo settimane di ricovero, ha portato noi infermieri, negli anni, ad essere sempre più aggiornati e preparati sotto ogni aspetto medico del caso di ogni paziente. Avere una nostra cartella e dare una nostra diagnosi su tutto il quadro completo della salute del paziente è un nostro dovere, dal momento che una persona non è solo la sua malattia ma è prima di tutto un individuo con una storia, dei ricordi, delle esperienze e delle persone attorno che ama e che lo amano e il minimo che si possa fare per lui è accertarsi che ogni sintomo da lui descritto, ogni cambiamento percepito venga registrato e se ne tenga conto per qualsiasi manovra invasiva e non a cui verrà in seguito sottoposto. Il medico faccia il suo che noi sappiamo molto bene come fare il nostro. E se lo facciamo non è per darci un tono da medici ma per fare del bene ai pazienti cosa che, ahimè, a voi spesso sfugge! La saluto. E si aggiorni invece di restare mentalmente chiuso a 20/30 anni fa. La chiusura mentale non l'aiuterà a diventare un buon medico se lo ricordi!

24 novembre 2018 - 17h53

Ma iscriversi in medicina no?

Invece di scimmiottare i medici con questi artifici semantici? Nella mia esperienza non è mai successo che un infermiere sia venuto in sala medici a formulare una sua diagnosi o che addirittura l abbia scritta in cartella! Figuarsi! Per la cronaca poi “deglutizione compromessa” non è una diagnosi, che appunto vuol dire conoscenza attraverso i segni; al massimo puó essere il semplice ravvisamento di un segno, ma la sua interpretazione, analisi e sintesi, è di competenza medica. E questa investitura non avviene su base divina: è la normale distizione di ruoli. Non è possibile fare un esercito di soli generali per far contenta la truppa.

22 mai 2018 - 02h39

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29 Problem-Solving Products With Before And After Pics That'll Convince You To Buy 'Em

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Get it from Amazon for  $16.02+  (also available with a nail file).

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Talk to your doctor before attempting to treat your keloid on your own, and learn more about keloids from  Cleveland Clinic .

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Just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let sit for 5–10 minutes, and rinse! It's recommended you go back in afterward with a foot file just to make sure no residue or dead skin is left behind.

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Get it from Amazon for $4.99+  (available in multipacks).

11. And  The Pink Stuff's Miracle Multipurpose Cleaner Spray  for large surface areas like counters, walls, bathtubs, and floors. Marker on the wall from your kid? No match for this stuff. 

Promising review: "Glad I found this product on TikTok. Does 95%–100% of the job in seconds ! Definitely worth the money." — Mother of 4

Get it from Amazon for $4.99  (also available in a multipack).

12. A cruelty-free pet ear cleanser that'll gently (but effectively) clean your furry friend's ears and help make ear cleaning time a little easier on both you and the fur babe. Just fill the ear canal, gently massage it in, gently remove debris with a cotton ball, and boom — clean, fresh ears.

Promising review: "I have rescue poodles and any poodle owner can tell you about cleaning poodle ears. It's...nasty. But when you add years of neglect on top of already prone-to-funk ears it is just terrible. Infections, pain, and stressful cleanings were part of our lives until I tried this stuff . I have no idea how it works but it's MAGICAL. You squirt it in, smoosh it around, and the ick just starts wiping right off. It somehow fixes the sticky and stinky ear goop and makes cleaning ears as easy as rubbing them out with a cotton pad. It's gentle on the skin and hair while breaking up the funk.  I wish I'd found this years ago." — Jenae

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 .

13. A pack of  Keurig cleaner pods you can simply put through a cycle on the machine to get rid of all the gross crud and built-up coffee grinds in there. The first time cleaning might take a few extra pods, BUT use them weekly and your Keurig will be easier to clean. You'd be surprised how much better your coffee tastes after your Keurig is clean as new! 

Promising review:  "I had no idea that cleaning a Keurig was a thing. I bought these because I saw them on TikTok, believe it or not. I wanted to give it a go because my Keurig isn’t that old and I didn’t think it would do anything.  IT WORKS SO WELL!  My Keurig wasn’t as nasty as some I’ve seen luckily.  I would highly recommend, keeps everything running correctly and clean ." — Lauren

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+  (available in packs of 6, 12, or 18).

14. A  lid organizer  to organize all those Tupperware tops because your current organization system probably makes you wanna scream in terror and shut the cabinet door every time you open it. And don't get me started on trying to find the actual matching container — one word: nightmare. Your cabinet will look soooo much neater and you'll no longer be living in your own horror movie, Tupperware Cabinet Of Terror: Finding The Matching Lids. 

Promising review: " I never knew I needed this until I got it and now I don’t know how I ever lived without it!" — Kelli Belpedio

Get it from Amazon for  $16.99+  (available in four sizes).

15. A  pumice stone  for your toilet so you can ~finally~ get rid of that unattractive ring in the bowl. Keep your throne squeaky clean and looking brand-new! And you can use it on other surfaces like sinks and tubs! 

Promising review:  "TikTok made me buy this. This thing literally scoured away hard-water stains that I have been trying to get rid of for years in less than 30 seconds. 10/10 recommend." — Tleary125

Get it from Amazon for  $10.99+  (available in multipacks).

16. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair  to help you on those mornings where your kid wakes up with their hair literally everywhere and you've got five minutes to work some sort of magic on their little locks — talk about a scary situation. And this stuff gets the job done without any nasty parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Breakage, buh-bye. Elasticity and bounce, helloooooo! 

Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy.

Promising review:  " Amazing transformation! Highly recommend!  I went down an Instagram rabbit hole and saw a similar girl show how her frizz was transformed to curls. I ordered this!! My mind has been blown!! This has changed our lives. It smells so good! It is easy to use and air dry. Before my daughter woke up with terrible bed head. Now it is gorgeous soft curls. We will definitely buy again and tell everyone about this product!!" — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.26 .

17. A water-based instant Folex carpet spot remover  that could clean up that chili Kevin spilled. No joke. I'm literally floored by these before and after pics. 

Promising review: “I wish I would’ve taken a before and after picture. I had a stain in my carpet that was there from the time we moved in three years ago. I ’ve tried carpet cleaners, various sprays, and even had the carpets professionally cleaned. Nothing touched it. I bought this after seeing it in a TikTok video on a whim, and I’m SO glad I did. Literally all I did was spray, mush it around in the carpet, and pressed in a paper towel. Literal magic. Stain was gone instantly. I used up the entire bottle in less than an hour, going around to all the spots in my home. I don’t know what sorcery and magic is in this, but I cannot recommend enough. 100% repurchasing!" — Davids Mommy

Get it from Amazon for $6.65+  (available in multipacks).

18. A set of Wonder Hangers  because your closet is full, but you can't resist a sale and having to get rid of your clothes is a frightening thought. These things can hold up to 30 pounds and one can hold up to five garments. 😱 I say we grab a pack of these, then celebrate the new space in our closets by buying more clothes. 

Check out a  TikTok of the Wonder Hangers  in action. 

Promising review:  "I love this for my walk-in closet and my obsession with shopping. 😅 Everything was perfect. I ordered a pack of six in white and everything was intact. Yes they are made of plastic, but very durable — I have a lot of heavy formal dresses and it's holding them up very well, shockingly !! I'm ordering more. ❤❤❤" — Taylor M.

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $13.99+  (available in two colors and in a 24-pack).

19. A bottle of   Sunny & Honey Carpet Miracle that'll help give your carpets the cleaning they have soooo needed. This stuff is tough on dirty carpets and will have 'em looking brand new again no matter how big or old the stains from your kids, pets, or clumsy self (🙋‍♀️). 

This solution works great with Bissell, Hoover, McCulloch, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, and Carpet Express cleaners.

Sunny & Honey  is a family-run small biz that specializes in biodegradable cleaning products.

Promising review:  "Worth every penny. I’ve bought this product so many times now I have it on auto ship! Saw the reviews and figured I’d give it a try. My cat likes to pee over the litter box and stained the brand-new carpet. I used this in my Bissell and it took all the stain and smell out!!! I’ll never use another cleaner. " — Wendy

Get it from Amazon for  $17.99+  (available in two sizes and three scents).

20. An extendable  Baseboard Buddy  to clean molding, your fireplace mantel, and of course, your baseboards. It can reach surfaces both high and low and your back and knees will thank you for ~not~ crouching down, because those are not the same knees you used to use to get low like Lil Jon. 

The kit includes one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads that can be used wet or dry. Plus the pads are microfiber and will trap and lock dirt and you won't walk past your dusty baseboards thinking *I'll get to that later* every other day.

Promising review : " Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" — artgirl

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 

21. An overnight tank cleaner  that'll clean your toilet tank without you having to literally do an-y-thing. Throw this in the tank annnnndd that's about it. Couldn't be easier.

Promising review: "According to the instructions I was supposed to use the whole bottle but being that it was so big and that I had two toilets to clean, I only used half. I was pleasantly surprised. The toilet tank is from the 1960s and I doubt it's been cleaned within the last few decades . In the 'after' photo [above] you can see that there is still some rust left over but large chunks fell off the sides and can be seen on the bottom of the tank." — Nicole

Get it from Amazon for $7.60+  (also available in a multipack).

22. A hypoallergenic makeup brush shampoo because your dirty beauty tools have been haunting your dreams like ~wash us, it's been four months~. If you'd literally rather buy new makeup tools than clean them, this minimal-effort shampoo is just as right for you as Baby Bear's chair was for Goldilocks. 

This shampoo formula is cruelty-free and vegan!

Promising review: "After thorough, intensive scrubbing with dish soap, I thought I'd done an OK job on my brushes. FALSE! THIS! This magical, Hogwarts-crafted solution put any soap to shame. Minimal effort, incredible results. I had no idea my brushes could go back to their original color . Best purchase ever." — AC

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.98 .

23. A fume-free oven cleaner that's gentle enough that you don't need protective gloves to use it, but tough enough that your oven will be left sparkling. Open your oven and you'll probably hear the angels sing.

Promising review : "I saw this on a TikTok. I have used Easy Off in the past but hated the smell. This is so much better and let me tell you I am super sensitive to smells.  Works great in the oven, and also as I saw on the video works great in shower stalls and tubs!"  — Amy L Viau

Get it from Amazon for $8.98 .

24. A plant-based  cooking oil solidifier because pouring oil down your drain is no bueno and could cause problems in the future. This is a quick, easy way to dispose of that oil you have no clue what to do with. Sprinkle the powder into the leftover oil while it's hot, let it cool, and then throw it out! You'll be terrified once you do see this big, solid glob of oil since you *almost* poured it down the drain — that aftermath would have been scarrrrrrry! 

FryAway is a Latine woman-owned small biz founded by Laura Lady who specializes in planet-friendly ways to dispose of oil. They donate 1% of revenue to nonprofits focused on water conservation.

Promising review: "Honestly I didn’t know if this would work; waiting for it to cool down made me nervous, but once it was at room temperature, it was solid. It popped out of the fryer so nicely. Worth every penny." — Emma

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 .

25. A bleach-free weekly shower spray  that'll clean your shower till it sparkles, but that's not all, friends. This baby also helps prevent future soap scum buildup. Spray it, let it sit for 8–12 hours (so probz spray before bed), then wake up to a totally new shower. 

Promising review: "I got this product about three months ago and haven’t had to scrub my shower since! I just use this every week and rinse it off. It’s life changing!!" — Linds

Get it from Amazon for $20.98+  (available in three sizes and in a two-pack). 

26. A plant-based stainless steel cleaner  to wipe up all those pesky fingerprints on your fridge. And it doesn't stop there — it leaves a protective barrier to help prevent future fingerprints and smudges, keeping your stainless-steel appliances cleaner for longer. 

Check out this TikTok of the Therapy stainless steel cleaning spray working miracles!!

Therapy Clean is a family-owned and operated small biz that specializes in cleaning products to make your home shine.

Promising review : "This is a miracle worker on stainless. I have tried everything to get my stainless to shine like it should, even the home remedies, which do NOT work — sorry but they don't. This stuff is the best I have tried. I follow a girl on TikTok who recommended it and she has been right 100% on her Amazon recommendations. She nailed it again. You will love this stuff." — Amazonwoman

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+  (available in two sizes and in a two-pack).

27. A Bissell multipurpose carpet and upholstery cleaner that parents and pet owners are totally loving. It'll help remove tough stains from grass to mud to pet accidents using warm water and a special formula. That lasagna stain? *Poof* so long lasagna stain! 

Each cleaner comes with a trial size of Bissell's Spot & Stain Formula , which is also available on Amazon for $12.99 ! 

Promising review : "I love this thing. I bought it on a whim after seeing so many TikTok videos about it and can now say I am obsessed with it . As soon as it arrived I wanted to try it out so I started on an old stain on my rug, and imagine my surprise when it instantly came out and   I had tried every cleaning product prior to this. Then I thought I would try my couch and now it looks brand new. Next was my car. I've owned my car for 10 years and it has fabric seats. Honestly, I was grossed out by how much brown liquid and dirt came out of those seats but my car looks and smells amazing now . I would highly recommend this. Easy to move around and clean rugs, couches, cars, chairs, and more. Wish I had taken before and after photos because they would have been so good." — Zoey

Get it from Amazon for $109.59 .

28. A  spray-on cleaning gel  for the rust that's been turning your tub and shower walls orange and scaring you half to death every time you open the curtains. No scrubbing, I repeat — NO scrubbing — is required. 

Promising review: "I had two showers and two sinks to clean. Spent about an hour total on all. Spray, get it soaked, let it sit for about a minute, wipe, rinse, and repeat until done. Used almost the whole bottle. Totally worth it! This would have taken me a good three hours+ using Soft Scrub or Comet ." — Sarah.Sw

Get it from Amazon for $6.98+  (also available in multipacks).

29. An  "Angry Mama" microwave cleaner  that'll loosen up old food and stains so you don't have to spend hours scrubbing. Just fill her up with water and vinegar and let mama handle last week's lasagna. When she's done blowing her top, just easily wipe away the food! Mama always gets the job done.

Check out a  TikTok of the "Angry Mama" microwave cleaner  in action. 

Promising review:  "This makes cleaning out the microwave so easy . Even if I put it off too long and it's really gross in there, a few minutes of mama working in the microwave and I can literally just wipe it out with no effort ." — Katy H

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors).

You running to your microwave in terror after seeing those before and after pics:

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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Teens and Video Games Today

85% of u.s. teens say they play video games, and about four-in-ten do so daily. teens see both positive and negative sides of video games – from problem-solving and making friends to harassment and sleep loss, table of contents.

• Who plays video games?
• How often do teens play video games?
• What devices do teens play video games on?
• Social media use among gamers
• Teen views on how much they play video games and efforts to cut back
• Are teens social with others through video games?
• Do teens think video games positively or negatively impact their lives?
• Why do teens play video games?
• Bullying and violence in video games
• Appendix A: Detailed charts
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand teens’ use of and experiences with video games.

The Center conducted an online survey of 1,453 U.S. teens from Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, 2023, through Ipsos. Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents, who were part of its KnowledgePanel . The KnowledgePanel is a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The survey was weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with their parents by age, gender, race and ethnicity, household income, and other categories.

This research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, an independent committee of experts specializing in helping to protect the rights of research participants.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and  its methodology .

There are long-standing debates about the impact of video games on youth. Some credit them for helping young people form friendships and teaching them about teamwork and problem-solving . Others say video games expose teenagers to violent content, negatively impact their sleep and can even lead to addiction.

With this in mind, Pew Research Center surveyed 1,423 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 about their own video game habits – from how often they play to the friends they’ve made and whether it gets in the way of them doing well in school or getting a good night’s sleep. 1

Key findings from the survey

• Video games as a part of daily teen life: 85% of U.S. teens report playing video games, and 41% say they play them at least once a day. Four-in-ten identify as a gamer.
• Gaming as a social experience: 72% of teens who play video games say that a reason why they play them is to spend time with others. And some have even made a friend online from playing them – 47% of teen video game players say they’ve done this.
• Helpful with problem-solving, less so for sleep: Over half of teens who play video games say it has helped their problem-solving skills, but 41% also say it has hurt their sleep.
• Bullying is a problem: 80% of all teens think harassment over video games is a problem for people their age. And 41% of those who play them say they’ve been called an offensive name when playing.
• Boys’ and girls’ experiences differ: Most teen boys and girls play video games, but larger shares of boys identify as gamers (62% vs. 17%) and play every day (61% vs. 22%). Boys who play them are also more likely to experience positive things from it, like making friends, and more troubling things like harassment.

Jump to read about: Who plays video games | Socializing over video games | Views about video games’ impact | Harassment and violence in video games      

Playing video games is widespread among teens. The vast majority of U.S. teens (85%) say they play them. Just 15% say they never do, according to the survey conducted Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2023.

In addition to asking whether teens play video games, we also wanted to learn whether they consider themselves gamers. Overall, four-in-ten U.S. teens think of themselves as gamers. Just under half of teens (45%) play video games but do not think of themselves as gamers.

Nearly all boys (97%) say they play video games, compared with about three-quarters of teen girls. There is a substantial gap by gender in whether teens identify as gamers: 62% of teen boys do, compared with 17% of girls. 2

By gender and age

Younger teen girls are more likely than older girls to say they play video games: 81% of girls ages 13 to 14 compared with 67% of those ages 15 to 17. But among boys, nearly all play video games regardless of age. 

Similar shares of teens play video games across different racial and ethnic groups and among those who live in households with different annual incomes. Go to Appendix A for more detail on which teens play video games and which teens identify as gamers.

We also asked teens how often they play video games. About four-in-ten U.S. teens say they play video games daily, including 23% who do so several times a day.

Another 22% say they play several times a week, while 21% play them about once a week or less.

Teen boys are far more likely than girls to say they play video games daily (61% vs. 22%). They are also much more likely to say they play them several times a day (36% vs. 11%).

By whether someone identifies as a gamer

About seven-in-ten teens who identify as gamers (71%) say they play video games daily. This drops to 30% among those who play them but aren’t gamers.

By household income

Roughly half of teens living in households with an annual income of less than $30,000 (53%) say they play video games at least daily. This is higher than those in households with an annual income of $30,000 to $74,999 (42%) and $75,000 or more (39%).

Go to Appendix A to see more details about who plays video games and identifies as a gamer by gender, age, race and ethnicity, and household income.

Most teens play video games on a gaming console or a smartphone. When asked about five devices, most teens report playing video games on a gaming console (73%), such as PlayStation, Switch or Xbox. And 70% do so on a smartphone. Fewer – though still sizable shares – play them on each of the following:

• 49% say they play them on a desktop or laptop computer
• 33% do so on a tablet  
• 24% play them on a virtual reality (VR) headset such as Oculus, Meta Quest or PlayStation VR

Many teens play video games on multiple devices. About a quarter of teens (27%) do so on at least four of the five devices asked about, and about half (49%) play on two or three of them. Just 8% play video games on one device.

Teen boys are more likely than girls to play video games on four of the five devices asked about – all expect tablets. For instance, roughly nine-in-ten teen boys say they ever play video games on a gaming console, compared with 57% of girls. Equal shares of teen boys and girls play them on tablets.  

Teens who consider themselves gamers are more likely than those who play video games but aren’t gamers to play on a gaming console (95% vs. 78%), desktop or laptop computer (72% vs. 45%) or a virtual reality (VR) headset (39% vs. 19%). Similar shares of both groups play them on smartphones and tablets.

One way that teens engage with others about video games is through online platforms. And our survey findings show that teen gamers stand out for their use of two online platforms that are known for their gaming communities – Discord and Twitch :

• 44% of teen gamers say they use Discord, far higher than video game players who don’t identify as gamers or those who use the platform but do not play video games at all. About three-in-ten teens overall (28%) use Discord.
• 30% of teens gamers say they use Twitch. About one-in-ten other teens or fewer say the same; 17% of teens overall use the platform.

Previous Center research shows that U.S. teens use online platforms at high rates .

Teens largely say they spend the right amount of time playing video games. When asked about how much time they spend playing them, the largest share of teens (58%) say they spend the right amount of time. Far fewer feel they spend too much (14%) or too little (13%) time playing them.

Teen boys are more likely than girls to say they spend too much time playing video games (22% vs. 6%).

By race and ethnicity

Black (17%) and Hispanic (18%) teens are about twice as likely than White teens (8%) to say they spend too little time playing video games. 3

A quarter of teens who consider themselves gamers say they spend too much time playing video games, compared with 9% of those who play video games but don’t identify as gamers. Teen gamers are also less likely to think they spend too little time playing them (19% vs. 10%).

Fewer than half of teens have reduced how much they play video games. About four-in-ten (38%) say they have ever chosen to cut back on the amount of time they spend playing them. A majority (61%) report that they have not cut back at all.

This share is on par with findings about whether teenagers have cut back with their screen time – on social media or their smartphone.

Although boys are more likely to say they play video games too much, boys and girls are on par for whether they have ever cut back. About four-in-ten teen boys (39%) and girls (38%) say that they have ever cut back.

And gamers are as likely to say they have cut back as those who play video games but don’t identify as gamers (39% and 41%).

A main goal of our survey was to ask teens about their own experiences playing video games. For this section of the report, we focus on teens who say they play video games.

Socializing with others is a key part of the video game experience. Most teens who play video games do so with others, and some have developed friendships through them.

About nine-in-ten teen video game players (89%) say they play them with other people, in person or online. Far fewer (11%) play them only on their own.

Additionally, about half (47%) report that they have ever made a friend online because of a video game they both play. This equals 40% of all U.S. teens who have made a friend online because of a video game.

These experiences vary by:  

• Gender: Most teen boy and girl video game players play them with others, though it’s more common among boys (94% vs. 82%). Boys who play video games are much more likely to say they have made a friend online because of a video game (56% vs. 35%).
• Race and ethnicity: Black (55%) and Hispanic (53%) teen video game players are more likely than White teen video game players (43%) to say they have made a friend online because of them.
• Whether someone identifies as a gamer: Nearly all teen gamers report playing video games with others (98%). Fewer – though still most – of those who play video games but aren’t gamers (81%) also play them with others. And about seven-in-ten (68%) say they have made a friend online because of a video game, compared with 29% of those who play them but don’t identify as gamers.

Teens who play video games are particularly likely to say video games help their problem-solving skills. More than half of teens who play video games (56%) say this.

Additionally, more think that video games help, rather than hurt, three other parts of their lives that the survey asked about. Among teens who play video games:

• Roughly half (47%) say it has helped their friendships
• 41% say it has helped how they work with others
• 32% say it has helped their mental health

No more than 7% say playing video games has hurt any of these.

More teens who play video games say it hurts, rather than helps, their sleep. Among these teens, 41% say it has hurt how much sleep they get, while just 5% say it helps. And small shares say playing video games has impacted how well they do in school in either a positive or a negative way.

Still, many teens who play video games think playing them doesn’t have much an impact in any of these areas. For instance, at least six-in-ten teens who play video games say it has neither a positive nor a negative impact on their mental health (60%) or their school performance (72%). Fewer (41%) say this of their problem-solving skills.

Teen boys who play video games are more likely than girls to think playing them has helped their problem-solving skills, friendships and ability to work with others. For instance, 55% of teen boys who play video games say this has helped their friendships, compared with 35% of teen girls.

As for ways that it may hurt their lives, boys who play them are more likely than girls to say that it has hurt the amount of sleep they get (45% vs. 37%) and how well they do in school (21% vs. 11%). 

Teens who consider themselves gamers are more likely than those who aren’t gamers but play video games to say video games have helped their friendships (60% vs. 35%), ability to work with others (52% vs. 32%), problem-solving skills (66% vs. 47%) and mental health (41% vs. 24%).

Gamers, though, are somewhat more likely to say playing them hurt their sleep (48% vs. 36%) and how well they do in school (20% vs. 14%).

By whether teens play too much, too little or the right amount

Teens who report playing video games too much stand out for thinking video games have hurt their sleep and school performance. Two-thirds of these teens say it has hurt the amount of sleep they get, and 39% say it hurt their schoolwork. Far fewer of those who say they play the right amount (38%) or too little (32%) say it has hurt their sleep, or say it hurt their schoolwork (12% and 16%).

Teens who play video games say they largely do so to be entertained. And many also play them to be social with and interact with others. Teens who play video games were asked about four reasons why they play video games. Among those who play video games:

• Nearly all say fun or entertainment is a major or minor reason why they play video games – with a large majority (87%) saying it’s a major reason.
• Roughly three-quarters say spending time with others is a reason, and two-thirds say this of competing with others. Roughly three-in-ten say each is a major reason.
• Fewer – 50% – see learning something as a reason, with just 13% saying it’s a major reason.

While entertainment is by far the most common reason given by teens who play video games, differences emerge across groups in why they play video games.

Teens who identify as gamers are particularly likely to say each is major reason, especially when it comes to competing against others. About four-in-ten gamers (43%) say this is a major reason, compared with 13% of those who play video games but aren’t gamers.

Teen boys who play video games are more likely than girls to say competing (36% vs. 15%), spending time with others (36% vs. 27%) and entertainment (90% vs. 83%) are major reasons they play video games.

Black and Hispanic teens who play video games are more likely than White teens to say that learning new things and competing against others are major reasons they play them. For instance, 29% of Black teen video game players say learning something new is a major reason, higher than 17% of Hispanic teen video game players. Both are higher than the 7% of White teen video game players who say the same.

Teens who play video games and live in lower-income households are especially likely to say competing against others and learning new things are major reasons. For instance, four-in-ten teen video game players who live in households with an annual income of less than $30,000 say competing against others is a major reason they play. This is higher than among those in households with annual incomes of $30,000 to $74,999 (29%) and $75,000 or more (23%).

Cyberbullying can happen in many online environments, but many teens encounter this in the video game world.

Our survey finds that name-calling is a relatively common feature of video game life – especially for boys. Roughly four-in-ten teen video game players (43%) say they have been harassed or bullied while playing a video game in one of three ways: 

• 41% have been called an offensive name
• 12% have been physically threatened
• 8% have been sent unwanted sexually explicit things

Teen boys are particularly likely to say they have been called an offensive name. About half of teen boys who play video games (48%) say this has happened while playing them, compared with about a third of girls (32%). And they are somewhat more likely than girls to have been physically threatened (15% vs. 9%).

Teen gamers are more likely than those who play video games but aren’t gamers to say they been called and offensive name (53% vs. 30%), been physically threatened (17% vs. 8%) and sent unwanted sexually explicit things (10% vs. 6%).

Teens – regardless of whether they’ve had these experiences – think bullying is a problem in gaming. Eight-in-ten U.S. teens say that when it comes to video games, harassment and bullying is a problem for people their age. This includes 29% who say it is a major problem.

It’s common for teens to think harassment while playing video games is a problem, but girls are somewhat more likely than boys to say it’s a major problem (33% vs. 25%).

There have also been decades-long debates about how violent video games can influence youth behavior , if at all – such as by encouraging or desensitizing them to violence. We wanted to get a sense of how commonly violence shows up in the video games teens are playing.

Just over half of teens who play video games (56%) say at least some of the games they play contain violence. This includes 16% who say it’s in all or most of the games they play.

Teen boys who play video games are far more likely than girls to say that at least some of the games they play contain violence (69% vs. 37%).

About three-quarters of teen gamers (73%) say that at least some of the games they play contain violence, compared with 40% among video game players who aren’t gamers.   

• Throughout this report, “teens” refers to those ages 13 to 17. ↩
• Previous Center research of U.S. adults shows that men are more likely than women to identify as gamers – especially the youngest adults. ↩
• There were not enough Asian American respondents in the sample to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout the report. ↩

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Watch CBS News

Teens come up with trigonometry proof for Pythagorean Theorem, a problem that stumped math world for centuries

By Bill Whitaker

May 5, 2024 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News

As the school year ends, many students will be only too happy to see math classes in their rearview mirrors. It may seem to some of us non-mathematicians that geometry and trigonometry were created by the Greeks as a form of torture, so imagine our amazement when we heard two high school seniors had proved a mathematical puzzle that was thought to be impossible for 2,000 years. 

We met Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson at their all-girls Catholic high school in New Orleans. We expected to find two mathematical prodigies.

Instead, we found at St. Mary's Academy , all students are told their possibilities are boundless.

Come Mardi Gras season, New Orleans is alive with colorful parades, replete with floats, and beads, and high school marching bands.

In a city where uniqueness is celebrated, St. Mary's stands out – with young African American women playing trombones and tubas, twirling batons and dancing - doing it all, which defines St. Mary's, students told us.

Junior Christina Blazio says the school instills in them they have the ability to accomplish anything. 

Christina Blazio: That is kinda a standard here. So we aim very high - like, our aim is excellence for all students. 

The private Catholic elementary and high school sits behind the Sisters of the Holy Family Convent in New Orleans East. The academy was started by an African American nun for young Black women just after the Civil War. The church still supports the school with the help of alumni.

In December 2022, seniors Ne'Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson were working on a school-wide math contest that came with a cash prize.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: I was motivated because there was a monetary incentive.

Calcea Johnson: 'Cause I was like, "$500 is a lot of money. So I-- I would like to at least try."

Both were staring down the thorny bonus question.

Bill Whitaker: So tell me, what was this bonus question?

Calcea Johnson: It was to create a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem. And it kind of gave you a few guidelines on how would you start a proof.

The seniors were familiar with the Pythagorean Theorem, a fundamental principle of geometry. You may remember it from high school: a² + b² = c². In plain English, when you know the length of two sides of a right triangle, you can figure out the length of the third.

Both had studied geometry and some trigonometry, and both told us math was not easy. What no one told  them  was there had been more than 300 documented proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem using algebra and geometry, but for 2,000 years a proof using trigonometry was thought to be impossible, … and that was the bonus question facing them.

Bill Whitaker: When you looked at the question did you think, "Boy, this is hard"?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yeah. 

Bill Whitaker: What motivated you to say, "Well, I'm going to try this"?

Calcea Johnson: I think I was like, "I started something. I need to finish it." 

Bill Whitaker: So you just kept on going.

Calcea Johnson: Yeah.

For two months that winter, they spent almost all their free time working on the proof.

CeCe Johnson: She was like, "Mom, this is a little bit too much."

CeCe and Cal Johnson are Calcea's parents.

CeCe Johnson:   So then I started looking at what she really was doing. And it was pages and pages and pages of, like, over 20 or 30 pages for this one problem.

Cal Johnson: Yeah, the garbage can was full of papers, which she would, you know, work out the problems and-- if that didn't work she would ball it up, throw it in the trash. 

Bill Whitaker: Did you look at the problem? 

Neliska Jackson is Ne'Kiya's mother.

Neliska Jackson: Personally I did not. 'Cause most of the time I don't understand what she's doing (laughter).

Michelle Blouin Williams: What if we did this, what if I write this? Does this help? ax² plus ….

Their math teacher, Michelle Blouin Williams, initiated the math contest.

Bill Whitaker: And did you think anyone would solve it?

Michelle Blouin Williams: Well, I wasn't necessarily looking for a solve. So, no, I didn't—

Bill Whitaker: What were you looking for?

Michelle Blouin Williams: I was just looking for some ingenuity, you know—

Calcea and Ne'Kiya delivered on that! They tried to explain their groundbreaking work to 60 Minutes. Calcea's proof is appropriately titled the Waffle Cone.

Calcea Johnson: So to start the proof, we start with just a regular right triangle where the angle in the corner is 90°. And the two angles are alpha and beta.

Bill Whitaker: Uh-huh

Calcea Johnson: So then what we do next is we draw a second congruent, which means they're equal in size. But then we start creating similar but smaller right triangles going in a pattern like this. And then it continues for infinity. And eventually it creates this larger waffle cone shape.

Calcea Johnson: Am I going a little too—

Bill Whitaker: You've been beyond me since the beginning. (laughter) 

Bill Whitaker: So how did you figure out the proof?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Okay. So you have a right triangle, 90° angle, alpha and beta.

Bill Whitaker: Then what did you do?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Okay, I have a right triangle inside of the circle. And I have a perpendicular bisector at OP to divide the triangle to make that small right triangle. And that's basically what I used for the proof. That's the proof.

Bill Whitaker: That's what I call amazing.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Well, thank you.

There had been one other documented proof of the theorem using trigonometry by mathematician Jason Zimba in 2009 – one in 2,000 years. Now it seems Ne'Kiya and Calcea have joined perhaps the most exclusive club in mathematics. 

Bill Whitaker: So you both independently came up with proof that only used trigonometry.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: So are you math geniuses?

Calcea Johnson: I think that's a stretch. 

Bill Whitaker: If not genius, you're really smart at math.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Not at all. (laugh) 

To document Calcea and Ne'Kiya's work, math teachers at St. Mary's submitted their proofs to an American Mathematical Society conference in Atlanta in March 2023.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Well, our teacher approached us and was like, "Hey, you might be able to actually present this," I was like, "Are you joking?" But she wasn't. So we went. I got up there. We presented and it went well, and it blew up.

Bill Whitaker: It blew up.

Calcea Johnson: Yeah. 

Ne'Kiya Jackson: It blew up.

Bill Whitaker: Yeah. What was the blowup like?

Calcea Johnson: Insane, unexpected, crazy, honestly.

It took millenia to prove, but just a minute for word of their accomplishment to go around the world. They got a write-up in South Korea and a shout-out from former first lady Michelle Obama, a commendation from the governor and keys to the city of New Orleans. 

Bill Whitaker: Why do you think so many people found what you did to be so impressive?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Probably because we're African American, one. And we're also women. So I think-- oh, and our age. Of course our ages probably played a big part.

Bill Whitaker: So you think people were surprised that young African American women, could do such a thing?

Calcea Johnson: Yeah, definitely.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: I'd like to actually be celebrated for what it is. Like, it's a great mathematical achievement.

Achievement, that's a word you hear often around St. Mary's academy. Calcea and Ne'Kiya follow a long line of barrier-breaking graduates. 

The late queen of Creole cooking, Leah Chase , was an alum. so was the first African-American female New Orleans police chief, Michelle Woodfork …

And judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Dana Douglas. Math teacher Michelle Blouin Williams told us Calcea and Ne'Kiya are typical St. Mary's students.  

Bill Whitaker: They're not unicorns.

Michelle Blouin Williams: Oh, no no. If they are unicorns, then every single lady that has matriculated through this school is a beautiful, Black unicorn.

Pamela Rogers: You're good?

Pamela Rogers, St. Mary's president and interim principal, told us the students hear that message from the moment they walk in the door.

Pamela Rogers: We believe all students can succeed, all students can learn. It does not matter the environment that you live in. 

Bill Whitaker: So when word went out that two of your students had solved this almost impossible math problem, were they universally applauded?

Pamela Rogers: In this community, they were greatly applauded. Across the country, there were many naysayers.

Bill Whitaker: What were they saying?

Pamela Rogers: They were saying, "Oh, they could not have done it. African Americans don't have the brains to do it." Of course, we sheltered our girls from that. But we absolutely did not expect it to come in the volume that it came.  

Bill Whitaker: And after such a wonderful achievement.

Pamela Rogers: People-- have a vision of who can be successful. And-- to some people, it is not always an African American female. And to us, it's always an African American female.

Gloria Ladson-Billings: What we know is when teachers lay out some expectations that say, "You can do this," kids will work as hard as they can to do it.

Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, has studied how best to teach African American students. She told us an encouraging teacher can change a life.

Bill Whitaker: And what's the difference, say, between having a teacher like that and a whole school dedicated to the excellence of these students?

Gloria Ladson-Billings: So a whole school is almost like being in Heaven. 

Bill Whitaker: What do you mean by that?

Gloria Ladson-Billings: Many of our young people have their ceilings lowered, that somewhere around fourth or fifth grade, their thoughts are, "I'm not going to be anything special." What I think is probably happening at St. Mary's is young women come in as, perhaps, ninth graders and are told, "Here's what we expect to happen. And here's how we're going to help you get there."

At St. Mary's, half the students get scholarships, subsidized by fundraising to defray the $8,000 a year tuition. Here, there's no test to get in, but expectations are high and rules are strict: no cellphones, modest skirts, hair must be its natural color.

Students Rayah Siddiq, Summer Forde, Carissa Washington, Tatum Williams and Christina Blazio told us they appreciate the rules and rigor.

Rayah Siddiq: Especially the standards that they set for us. They're very high. And I don't think that's ever going to change.

Bill Whitaker: So is there a heart, a philosophy, an essence to St. Mary's?

Summer Forde: The sisterhood—

Carissa Washington: Sisterhood.

Tatum Williams: Sisterhood.

Bill Whitaker: The sisterhood?

Voices: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: And you don't mean the nuns. You mean-- (laughter)

Christina Blazio: I mean, yeah. The community—

Bill Whitaker: So when you're here, there's just no question that you're going to go on to college.

Rayah Siddiq: College is all they talk about. (laughter) 

Pamela Rogers: … and Arizona State University (Cheering)

Principal Rogers announces to her 615 students the colleges where every senior has been accepted.

Bill Whitaker: So for 17 years, you've had a 100% graduation rate—

Pamela Rogers: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: --and a 100% college acceptance rate?

Pamela Rogers: That's correct.

Last year when Ne'Kiya and Calcea graduated, all their classmates went to college and got scholarships. Ne'Kiya got a full ride to the pharmacy school at Xavier University in New Orleans. Calcea, the class valedictorian, is studying environmental engineering at Louisiana State University.

Bill Whitaker: So wait a minute. Neither one of you is going to pursue a career in math?

Both: No. (laugh)

Calcea Johnson: I may take up a minor in math. But I don't want that to be my job job.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yeah. People might expect too much out of me if (laugh) I become a mathematician. (laugh)

But math is not completely in their rear-view mirrors. This spring they submitted their high school proofs for final peer review and publication … and are still working on further proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. Since their first two …

Calcea Johnson: We found five. And then we found a general format that could potentially produce at least five additional proofs.

Bill Whitaker: And you're not math geniuses?

Bill Whitaker: I'm not buying it. (laughs)

Produced by Sara Kuzmarov. Associate producer, Mariah B. Campbell. Edited by Daniel J. Glucksman.

Bill Whitaker is an award-winning journalist and 60 Minutes correspondent who has covered major news stories, domestically and across the globe, for more than four decades with CBS News.

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AFL 2024: St Kilda focused on ‘problem-solving’ after Ross Lyon outburst

A St Kilda star says it’s on the Saints’ senior players to lift as he addressed Ross Lyon’s unusual post-game comments on Saturday.

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St Kilda star Bradley Hill says he wants to finish his career at Moorabbin and still sees promise in the Saints’ list as “stagnant” ball movement hampers them on the field.

Hill said his side’s on-field issues were as much the players’ fault as coach Ross Lyon’s as the Saints slumped to 14th place with a 3-6 record after losing to Hawthorn in Launceston.

Lyon hit out after the game at AFL restrictions on runners which he claimed had made coaches “like neutered dogs” when games were on the line, but Hill said it was also on senior players to spread messages and identify problems to be solved on the field.

“I feel like Ross is taking a lot of that blame … us as players definitely should have a bit more of a role there, especially as older players,” he said.

“We need to be better as players out there. We need to be able to know what’s going wrong and being able to fix it.

“I think just our ball movement and stuff has been a little bit frustrating and a little bit stagnant – it’s not the way we want to play.”

Hill, who was previously linked with a trade to a fourth club late in the 2022 season but stayed on at St Kilda, said he was on the brink of signing a new deal to remain at the club and had no interest in moving elsewhere.

“I think it’s just getting it all signed off and whatnot, talking my manager to get all his stuff (done), but on my end I just (want) to get it all ticked off and approved,” he said.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’ve probably had a few clubs already … I’m loving it at St Kilda, I think we’ve got a bright future. There’s a lot of young talent coming through and I’m pretty excited to see where the club can go.”

The Saints wingman enjoyed posing for photos with his cousin, Collingwood’s Bobby Hill, at the MCG launch of Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Monday.

“It keeps on growing every year and it’s a special round for us. It’s awesome that it goes over two rounds, you get the home game and away game which is pretty awesome, all us boys love it,” he said.

“Non-Indigenous people can sort of learn a little bit about our history and our story – it’s a great round and one of the ones I always look forward to.”

Yet to win a game this season and with his production well down, Dustin Martin’s AFL career appears to be hanging by a thread.

The AFL is investigating after a Collingwood fan grabbed West Coast youngster Harvey Johnston at Marvel Stadium.

AFL players have put their ideas forward on how the league should address dropping Indigenous participation at the elite level.

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The Architects of Hades Strive to Bewitch Gamers Again

Supergiant Games, a small independent studio, had always tackled new projects. Then its dungeon crawler featuring the Greek pantheon became an enormous success.

By Brian X. Chen

Brian X. Chen, The Times’s personal tech columnist, reported from San Francisco. His favorite weapon in Hades was the rail gun.

When Supergiant Games was wrapping up Hades, a mythologically rich hack-and-slash dungeon crawler it had spent more than three years developing, the studio concluded it was not quite done. The game’s premise of being trapped in hell, which particularly resonated during the pandemic , had opened paths to untold stories about Greek lore.

It needed a sequel.

This was a plot twist for the small independent studio, which had always pursued new ideas — even after its debut game, Bastion, was an immediate hit that ultimately sold millions of copies. Although Hades won numerous industry accolades and prestigious Hugo and Nebula Awards, the decision to make Hades II was a hard one.

“Making a sequel to us, as well, was unexpected,” Greg Kasavin, the creative director of Supergiant, said at the company’s chic studio space in San Francisco ahead of the early access release of Hades II last week.

“We think they’re really quite tough,” he added. “To be able to surprise and delight the audience in the same way is quite a challenge.”

For big-budget triumphs like Mass Effect and Red Dead Redemption, a new installment is an obvious step toward building a lucrative franchise. But although some popular indie games, like Spelunky and Slay the Spire , have pursued sequels, it is a much less frequent route for smaller game makers. Rather than making decisions for shareholders, they often prioritize artists and designers who are eager to express their creativity.

Indie hits also face distinct constraints. They often stand out because of a novel element — like the ability to rewind time in Braid — and that buzz does not always carry into a sequel, said Jesper Juul, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture, Design and Conservation in Copenhagen.

“The first time people will tweet and post about it and say, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” said Juul, who wrote a book about independent games . “The second time it doesn’t have that novelty value.”

Supergiant was founded in 2009 by Amir Rao and Gavin Simon, who had worked on the real-time strategy Command & Conquer franchise at Electronic Arts, a giant corporation responsible for franchises such as The Sims and Madden.

Rao and Simon had noticed that several best-selling games, like Plants vs. Zombies and Castle Crashers, were coming from small studios. So they decided to form their own, initially setting up shop at a vacant house owned by Rao’s father in San Jose, Calif. Kasavin, a former video games journalist who also worked at Electronic Arts, joined them.

Kasavin said Supergiant had been tempted to create a sequel after the positive reception of Bastion (2011), in which a child collects powerful shards in a hostile environment that unfolds as a narrator provides commentary. But the team of seven at the time decided to explore other ideas, including science fiction, instead.

That led to Supergiant’s second game, Transistor (2014), about a famous singer who battles robots in a futuristic city. Its third project, the role-playing game Pyre (2017), features a band of exiles seeking freedom from purgatory.

By the time the studio, which now has 25 employees, released an early-access version of Hades in 2018, it had unintentionally created a perception that it was anti-sequel. Yet Supergiant is anything but: Among the games that employees list as their favorites are classic sequels, including Diablo II, Street Fighter II and Warcraft II.

Hades follows the journey of Zagreus, who in some versions of Greek mythology is considered the son of the god of the dead. As he ventures upward through the layers of hell with hopes of visiting his mother on the surface world, Zagreus fights monsters (including his father) with the help of other gods.

The idea of a sequel clicked when Supergiant realized that the god Hades also had daughters. Melinoë, a witch, created the opportunity to dive deep on the connection between Greek mythology and witchcraft.

Hades II has been in the works for more than three years, and not a single member of the team was against pursuing it, Kasavin said.

“We’re too small for that to be an acceptable starting point,” he said. “It’s only going to get tougher from there if you don’t have the raw excitement at the beginning.”

The long development process of Hades underscores one way that games are trying to optimize their odds of success . An incomplete version of the role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 was available to players for nearly three years before it was officially released in August to universal acclaim.

The early access version of Hades was made available in December 2018 with the hopes of receiving player input; the game that was officially released in September 2020 was the result of revisions based on thousands of pieces of feedback.

Supergiant is repeating this approach for the sequel. Hades II was released in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store last week, and the studio said it expected to keep refining it through at least the end of this year.

Rao, who works on the game’s design and mechanics, said player feedback was crucial to the success of Hades. “We will absolutely need that for Hades II,” he said.

In its current state, Hades II is much more polished than the original Hades was at the same point. (A year before Hades was released in early access, it was a game that involved exploring a minotaur’s labyrinth.) But the sequel will still benefit from crowdsourced feedback, Rao said, because it is much larger in scope.

Unlike Zagreus’s singular path in the first Hades, Melinoë will be able to explore two main routes, which essentially makes the sequel at least double the size. Option A is a path down into the underworld to fight Chronos, the god of time, who has usurped her father’s throne. Option B, which opens up later in the game, is a path upward to defend Mount Olympus, the home of the gods, which is under siege by Chronos.

Much of what made the original game addictive remains intact. Hades II is part of the roguelite genre, where players incrementally progress by starting out weak, failing, trying again and applying what they have learned or unlocked to eventually beat the main boss.

To get stronger, Melinoë picks up artifacts known as boons that contain powers shared by gods such as Aphrodite, Hermes and Zeus. The average player will probably die dozens of times before snowballing into an unstoppable force to defeat Chronos.

Sequels can have particular pitfalls. Sitara Shefta, the head of studio at No Brakes Games, said it had been a challenge to expand on Human Fall Flat — a physics-based puzzle game that involves controlling a character named Bob through a dreamy landscape — while preserving what people loved about it.

The original game, by a solo developer, sold 50 million copies. A team of about 35 is working on the sequel, focusing on adding levels and improving the graphics.

“What we don’t want to do is dilute it,” Shefta said. “It’s a physics game where so many people can express themselves in different ways.”

Juul, the video game scholar, said successful independent game makers often faced an innovator’s dilemma. As teams grow larger, he said, they can lose nimbleness and begin playing it safe in response to external demands.

Supergiant said it got no such pressure to make a sequel from partners, including Netflix, which recently published Hades as a mobile game . The studio declined to share sales numbers, saying only that Hades outperformed Bastion, which sold 3 million copies by 2015 .

Days before Supergiant released the early access version of Hades II, a cluster of employees worked in its small studio space, which has an open floor design embellished with orange and crimson accents reminiscent of the original game’s color palette.

The team was eager to reveal how Melinoë’s role as a witch added new dimensions to the gameplay. Zagreus’s punches and sword swings were conducive to rapid button mashing, but Melinoë’s spell-casting staff and other magic weapons require careful timing and precision. With one of her combat moves, she projects a force field that traps surrounding enemies.

Rao said Supergiant would study player feedback through the studio’s Discord channel, web forums, livestreams and social media. The studio also logs some important data — if most players are not picking a certain weapon, for instance, that can serve as a suggestion for designers to make it more fun to use.

The iterative process of learning from mistakes to improve Hades and Hades II is essentially a rogue game in and of itself. Supergiant has been immersed in Greek mythology for nearly seven years, so it is easy for Kasavin to draw a comparison: Sisyphus pushing a boulder for eternity.

Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer for The Times. He reviews products and writes Tech Fix , a column about the social implications of the tech we use. More about Brian X. Chen

Inside the World of Video Games

What to Play Next?: For inspiration, read what our critics thought about the newest titles , as well as which games our journalists have been enjoying .

Influencers Dying to Go Viral:  The horror video game Content Warning, a surprise hit , lets players microdose as momentary celebrities on the fictional website SpookTube.

No Rest for the Wicked:  The studio behind Ori and the Blind Forest has pivoted into dark fantasy , inspired by Dark Souls, Diablo and “Game of Thrones.”

Difficult but Accessible: Games like Another Crab’s Treasure  are questioning whether fiendish challenges are an intrinsic feature of the Soulslike genre.

Vibrant African Myths: Tales of Kenzera: Zau  is both a paean to one son’s paternal memories and an engrossing Metroidvania, our critic says.