Steps to Goal

The Six-Step Process

RESEARCH TOPIC Read and analyze FUTURE SCENE

I. IDENTIFY CHALLENGES II. SELECT AN UNDERLYING PROBLEM III. PRODUCE SOLUTION IDEAS IV. SELECT CRITERIA V. APPLY CRITERIA VI. DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN

Category List

1. ARTS & AESTHETICS                           10. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

2. BASIC NEEDS                                       11. LAW & JUSTICE

3. BUSINESS & COMMERCE                   12. MISCELLANEOUS

4. COMMUNICATION                                13. PHYSICAL HEALTH

5. DEFENSE                                              14. PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

6. ECONOMICS                                         15. RECREATION

7. EDUCATION                                           16. SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

8. ENVIRONMENT                                17. TECHNOLOGY

9. ETHICS & RELIGION                              18. TRANSPORTATION

Future Scene The first step in successful problem solving is

defining and describing the problem. That’s what a "future scene" is. It is a description of the problem situation you want to solve

Students respond to the future scene not the topic in general.

Teams and the Coach may read the future scene before first two practice problems.

The future scene for the state bowl qualifier and state bowl are sealed and may not be viewed before the timed session.

Guidelines for Generation Ideas… Defer Judgments/No Evaluation Both criticism and praise are ruled out. Avoid saying “yes” or “no” to an idea.

Quantity/More Not Less The larger the number of ideas, the greater the chance of reaching the best solutions.

Hitchhiking/Piggy-backing Combination and improvement are sought.

Free-Wheeling/Wild and Crazy The wilder the ideas, the better. Offbeat and silly ideas may trigger practical

breakthroughs that might not otherwise occur.

Step OneDeveloping Challenges

Step One Evaluation

FLEXIBILITY 1-10 pts.

▪ actual count of different categories

CLARITY (QUALITY OF IDEAS) 1-10 pts

▪ To reward clear communication and identification of significant challenges.

ORIGINALITY POINTS Each original = 3 pts. ▪ Bonus points awarded for constructive, humane,

realistic, and unique challenges.

Step One Tips

WORD IDEAS IN STATEMENT FORM TELL WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS AND WHY IT

IS A CHALLENGE ELABORATE IDEAS TO SUPPLY

INFORMATION FOR CLARITY RELATE IDEAS TO THE TOPIC AND FUTURE

SCENE USE RESEARCH TO SUPPORT CHALLENGES EXPAND FLUENCY AND FLEXIBILITY BY

THINKING IN TERMS OF CATEGORIES

Step TwoSelect Underlying Problem

Step Two Tips

Select a significant challenge from step one. Narrow the focus to include one underlying

problem Relate it clearly to the topic and future

scene.

The Four “I’s” IMPACT

▪ Which category of challenges if solved would have the greatest impact on the future scene?

INFLUENCE▪ Which category of challenges do you know the most

about? Choosing this category will allow your team to generate the most practical solutions.

INTEREST▪ Which category of challenges holds the interest of you

team the most? Choosing this category will generate the most enthusiasm from your team members.

IMAGINATION▪ Which category of challenges seems most likely to

inspire your imaginations so that you can come up with creative, futuristic solutions?

Texas Suggested Format

In the year (date from future scene), when (what is happening in the future scene that is causing the

challenge, how might we, (team name), (Key Verb Phrase) (minimize, maximize, increase, decrease,

reduce) so that ( why are you solving the challenge, what difference will it make to the future scene).

* Also include the topic name and future scene location in the step two.

Suggested Strong Verbs

MINIMIZE MAXIMIZE REDUCE DECREASE INCREASE

RELIEVEENCOURAGEPROVIDEPROTECTESTABLISHPROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR….

Avoid vague or Absolute verbs

SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ELIMINATE PREVENT ENSURE GUARANTEE ABOLISH

Step ThreeProduce Solution Ideas

Step Three Tips

Identify 16 possible solutions for your KEY VERB PHRASE and Purpose only!

Include at least 3 elaborates (who, what, when, where, why, how)

State the solutions as a definite. Use the categories to increase flexibility

points and to avoid duplications. Project your solutions to the future.

▪ Go beyond what is presently being done.

The solutions must be HUMANE!

Step Three Sample Format

WHO* is going to do WHAT.HOW is it going to work.WHY will it solve the KVP.

* All “who’s” must be different to receive credit.* This is a sample, encourage teams to use a

variety of sentence structures.

Step ThreeRelevance

Does each solution provide a way for solving the underlying problem that the team described in step two? (the KVP and Purpose)

Is the solution projected to the future? Does each solution address a different

category, and can you clearly see the relationship?

The solution must be relevant in order for elaboration, flexibility and originality to be scored.

Step Four and FiveSelecting and Applying Criteria

Step Four Tips

Develop five criteria on which to evaluate solutions.

▪ Use interrogative sentence. “Which solution will”

▪ Write in superlative form: most/least/est▪ Include a single dimension (no conjunctions)▪ Write in the desired direction. (most

acceptable; not least)▪ Do not use the phrase “so that” in step 4▪ Use “cost” only if necessary and as the last

criteria.

Step FourCriteria Format Examples

WHICH SOLUTION WILL: be the easiest for _______ to understand? be the greatest improvement over (what is presently done ? have the most lasting effects for ____? take the least amount of time to implement? take the least amount of new technology? be the most helpful to society? require the least number of personnel to implement? be most beneficial to _______ who are seeking further knowledge? be the easiest to maintain as ______ problems increase? be the most imaginative way to correct ____ problem? cause the least amount of disruption for ______? be most convenient for ______? be easiest to explain? is the most ethically/morally/legally sound? have the most appeal?

Step Five Tips

Choose the best 10 solutions for step 3. List the 10 solutions on the grid. Rank the solutions.

▪ Read criterion number one. Compare to all ten solutions.

▪ (10= best; 1= least)▪ Use each number only once in the column. Don’t use

the same numbers straight across.▪ Total the ranking to determine the most promising

solution.▪ The highest ranking solution is the best- the solution

that you will describe in step six (Action Plan)

Step SixDevelop an Action Plan

Step Six Tips The highest scoring solution from Step 5 is the action plan for Step 6. Cite Step 2 and the highest scoring solution from Step 5 again at the

beginning of Step 6.▪ Example: In order to (step 2), the action plan is (highest scoring

solution.) Explain how it has an impact on the underlying problem (step 2).

▪ Be sure that the highest scoring solution does indeed, solve the challenge identified in step 2.

▪ Address at least three of the criteria from step 4 to explain why this is the best action plan. ELABORATE.

Explain how it has an impact on the future scene. The relationship between the step 6 action plan and the overall topic and future scene must be clear.

Explain why the action plan is humane. This attribute is highly valued in problem solving because it generally leads to an improvement in the quality of life.

Write the action plan in the same format as the Future scene is written.

Step Six Evaluation

Evaluation: Step SixRelevance = 1-5 Possible Points

5 points = Action plan has an excellent relationship to the UP.4 points= Action plan does a good job of addressing the UP.2-3 points= Action plan has some relation to UP; another solution

might be better.1 point= Action plan does not address the UP; The UP was a

restatement or Broadening/Shift.

Effectiveness = 1-5 Possible Points5 points = Action plan completely solves UP.4 points= Action plan adequately UP.2-3 points= Action plan solves some aspects of UP.1 point= Action plan does little to solve the UP; The UP was a

restatement or Broadening/Shift.