Complex problem-solving

No matter the industry, all businesses face complex problems. But not all employees are equipped to solve these problems – that’s where you come in. By practising and learning to solve complex problems, you can potentially add real value to a company. Let’s explore how to do this.

Increasingly, complex problems in companies are overcome using automation and artificial intelligence, but in many cases, companies still need employees to be experts at finding solutions. Let’s take a look at solving a Rubik's cube, and how this can relate to solving a complex problem.

Pick one colour to start with

Any expert Rubik’s cube solver knows that the first step is to pick a colour that you will start with. This colour should either be a colour you like, or one that seems easy based on how many connected pieces there are to it.

In problem-solving: Start with a part of the problem that you can relate to, and that seems easiest or least complicated to solve. This also means to start by focussing on the essentials – what can solve the immediate problem? Often, your brain will become overwhelmed if you try to focus on too many things at once, so narrow the problem down to the core.

Complex problemsolving skills will make you a great teammate and someone with the ability to look at things a bit differently – make sure to embrace situations where you can practice these

Understand the mechanics

To solve a Rubik’s Cube, you need to understand that the centre cubes cannot move. You also need to know, therefore, that the centrepiece determines the colour of the side. If, for example, your chosen colour is in front of you, the colour on the other side will always be the colour of the centrepiece on that side.

In problem-solving: Get to know the problem. Divide it into parts – as many parts as needed. Get to know how each of these parts interact or influence each other. Predict what would happen if you changed one of these elements – this will help you to understand the deeper workings of the problem.

There is only one way to eat an elephant, a bite at a time.

One layer at a time

Desmond Tutu once wisely - Desmond Tutu said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant, a bite at a time.” The same is true for a Rubik’s cube. You solve it one layer at a time. After solving your chosen colour, you go on to the second, then the third layer, and eventually you will have solved all sides of the cube.

In problem-solving: After solving the essentials of the problem, move onto the other parts of the problems and try to solve them one by one.

Remember: all parts form the whole

Often, in the process of solving one part of a Rubik’s Cube, it might seem like other sides are being messed up – of course, this gets resolved if you are solving the cube correctly.

In problem-solving: Remember that all parts of the problem together still form the problem, and that solving or changing one part of the problem might have a big effect on another. Plan ahead to make sure that fixing one problem will not ruin something or create another problem. The best solutions will serve all the parts best.

Practice makes perfect

As with most things worth doing, solving a Rubik's cube is difficult. And the more you practice, the better you will become at solving it. The record for the fastest solve currently is 3.47, held by Yusheng Du – you better believe he took much longer than that the first time he tried it.

In problem-solving: Keep on at it. Embrace problems as opportunities to learn, and keep placing yourself in situations where you will have problems to solve. Complex problem-solving skills will make you a great teammate and someone with the ability to look at things a bit differently – make sure to embrace situations where you can practice these, and jot the experience down in a journal. This will come in handy when you need to give an example of problem-solving in your next interview.