In any situation, there are three fundemental stages of solving a problem.
- Realising the problem
- Finding the solution
- Following the solution through
These sound extremly simplified, but when fully realised they can help focus your efforts massively.
#1. Realising the problem
You have an issue at hand, so that's what you want to work on, right? But is it really? If the fire alarm goes off every time it rains, is it because water's leaking in and short-circuiting it? Is it because the girl on the top floor allways smokes when it rains because she feels sad?
You have local youths vandelising the area, is it because they're board? But why get violent? Influence of media, drugs, computer games? Or because it's an adrenalin rush?
Break the problem down into it's most basic concepts. You may not be able to solve all of them, but you'll be aware of the full picture and better able to handle the next stage.
#2. Finding the solution
This is essentially brainstorming. Thanks to the first stage though, you should have a small list of the core problems. Your goal at this stage is to first find solutions to each issue, then go through them again to how many problems can be fixed by the same acts. Moving the fire sensor could stop that alarm going off, but is it wise to when you know it's currently near a smokers room where fires are more likely? If it is the smoker causing it, why not address why she's so sad?
Is increasing police surveilence of the area such a good idea? Will police persecuting the local youths encourage them to stop causing trouble? Would adding local facilities redirect them, or would it be seen as throwing money at the problem?
A bad plan today is better than the best plan tommorow. But it doesn't mean you should keep following the bad plan once you have the best one. Be ready to admit you were wrong, and be able to change your ideas and reasses the problems.
#3. Following the solution through
This is possibly the hardest part, and finding definitive solutions to problems is rare. Most problems will reoccur after a period of time, and a lot of problems also require a consistant effort to solve. Being sure you have enough resources (both material and intelectual) to accomplish the solution is essential. This gets into the subject of Logistics. Can it be done with the resources, and if not how much can it be improved apon? Can the extra resources be aquired?
If it turns out that girl crys because her parents died when driving in the rain, you're probably out of your depth. You can still do your best to distract her away from it, but it's going to require more than just being there when it happens to rain. Be prepared to admit it if you can't handle it alone, and know where to get professional counceling.
The local youths see your community team put up a new skate park. But noone's talked to them about it, and the residents are encouraging their own children to use it. The skate park becomes a focus for the vandels and it's smashed up within the week. If someone had talked to some of the troublemakers directly, and got them on board with it it would have felt like something of theirs, not a token act by a condescending action group. This is what should be meant when politicians talk about making groups "part of the solution".
The examples I have used are ficticious and only examples. I'm sure you can dream up many others.
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