Logic trees and problem solving go hand in hand. They are the lifeblood of top performers in every industry. They are applied at all scales from small, medium to big. And they bring clarity, perspective and structure to any analytical process. Bridging the gap between problem and solution.
Oddly, you don’t hear the concept come up in discussions and conversations about problem solving frequently enough. Let alone see people draw or visualize logic trees in projects and meetings. Which is a shame since there’s almost no cost to make use of them.
Essentially, logic trees are hierarchical breakdowns of a problem into multiple components. And further breaking these components into its subcomponents. Each layer giving you a more extensive look at how you can solve the problem. Each layer giving you a greater depth to how you can make the solution happen.
But it’s more than drawing the tree itself that creates value in your problem solving process. It’s the characteristics that comes with it. The characteristics it brings together. As these are characteristics that can very well facilitate a problem solving process themselves.
So what are they? And how do they improve your problem solving capacity?
Logic Trees Are Hypothesis-Driven
In a hypothesis-driven approach, you make assumptions with the knowledge and experience you possess. And derive at propositions you seek to confirm. The moment you form one, you’re pointed in a direction. And it outlines what needs to be fact-checked to prove or disprove your premise. Giving you a plan to work on right off the bat.
Objective-focused – Your objectives are listed clearly in every box. And they tell you what to focus on. You are clear on the numbers you need to collect and the facts you need to check. Keeping you away from anything that doesn’t work to refute or back up your hypothesis.
Puts Quality Over Quantity – It can be fun, interesting and intellectually stimulating to get lost in the ocean of data available. Exploring their potential hidden value to your problem. But your hypothesis reminds you to only work towards information that either proves or disproves it. Since we don’t have the luxury to examine every nook and cranny.
Process Efficient – Your problems are solved from back to front. Beginning with the farthest sub-issue. So as long as you’ve discovered an inconsistency or discrepancy somewhere down the line, everything above it is irrelevant. You can move on to working on your next possible solution. And focus your time and resources there.
As you may have realized, problem solving with a hypothesis-driven approach saves you a lot of precious time and resources. An especially important element for those scarce in it. Such as small businesses, bootstraps, small teams handling major projects and solopreneurs. Freeing them up to spend it on other profit-generating activities.
Logic Trees Provide Structure
Structure offers a ready-made framework for you to base your hypothesis on. It defines the boundaries of your problem and lays out a logical path for a coherent analysis. Guiding you on what steps to take and how to take them to conduct your problem solving process successfully.
Pinpoints Key Drivers – In support of a hypothesis-driven approach, logic trees are structurally designed to source out key drivers. It shifts focus towards the meat of the issue as opposed to “picking off bones”. And curtails any tendency to run off track. Facilitating your efforts to finding your ideal solution.
Fosters Divergent Thinking – Logic trees also supports divergent thinking. Hailed as a superstar thought process when it comes to problem solving. It promotes creativity and non-linear thinking for out of the box solutions. Widening your viewpoints and consideration to alternative possibilities.
Gives Top to Bottom Perspectives – It starts you off at the very top, overlooking the problem from above. And progressively breaks your problem into issues and sub-issues for painless comprehension. To the degree where your issues can be answered with simple yes-no questions.
By defining the problem you want to solve at the very beginning, you see the whole scope of its consequences. The ramifications and the links between them. Prioritizing important factors that will lead to a solution and disregarding unimportant factors that serves to distract. Able to communicate complex problems and solution into quick-to-understand segments for clear execution.
Consider The Perspectives You Take
Back to the above image of “too little profit”. You can frame you beginning point in more ways than one. Starting the hypothesis off differently by incorporating a functional unit and varying its specificity. For example: Can I increase profits with a new sales process? or Can I increase profits with my sales department?
Logic trees are very transformative in nature so make the best use of that. They can pretty much fit into your problem solving process if you give it a chance to.
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