How to distinguish between issues and means

Frequently Asked Questions Question definition

Reprinted from the micro-channel article: good article to share; really good definition of the problem, the problem is already half solved.

1. mistakenly method / means when the "problem"

Next, I made up three stories, we feel from the story about the difference between means and issues, and how can we avoid the issue as a means.
Case I: Tales of Gun focused on blocking method, life energy are thinking about how to better block.
Teacher: Will what is the definition of the problem here? Xiao Ming: The problem here is how to block! Teacher: What other students also talk about the definition of the problem here is? Little Red: The problem here is the contradiction between flood and life and property! Blocking only way to solve this problem or means. Teacher: If the definition of the problem is the problem of floods and contradictory life and property, blocking the only method, is there any way to solve this problem? Wang: The method can also be used to clear the flood. White: We can also move to avoid flooding Teacher: Well, this is an idea
Case II: If I asked our customers what they want, they'll tell me they need a faster horse. - Henry Ford
Teacher: Will what is the definition of the problem here? Xiao Ming: The issue here is how to make the horse run faster! Teacher: What other students here can talk about the problem definition is not it? Red: Define the problem here is how to destination faster in the end, the horse is only a means. Teacher: Yes, if the horse is only a means, and the definition is not a problem, ask what what means can we solve the problems mentioned. Wang: Depending on the distance to the destination, we can choose to fly, ride the train, drive a car. Xiao Ming: teacher, I do not know do not know, I do not know cars, trains, airplanes, I only know the horse, so I am thinking of is how to make the horse run faster. Teacher: Yes, we tend to be limited by the limitations of our knowledge, this is inevitable, the only way is to keep learning, to enhance their knowledge.
Case III: How to fund prevention and control?
Teacher: Will what is the definition of the problem here? Xiao Ming: The issue here is how to do prevention and control of funds, how to prevent, how control. Teacher: What other students here can talk about the problem definition is not it? Red: Define the problem here is how to avoid losses on the company generated funds, prevention and control is only a means. White: capital loss prevention and control directly address the problem is to avoid the company generated a loss of money and reputation behind this problem is deeper issues of social trust. Teacher: white, although your name is called white, but you think that is not white, obviously you are using a method liter level thinking when thinking problem definition, see the problem behind the problem. Xiao Ming: teacher, why every time I think, are the means to solve the problem of thinking, have not seen the definition of the problem? Teacher: You can try to answer his own question, for example, you can ask yourself is owned loss prevention means it? Give yourself the answer, if the answer is yes, then ask yourself: if the capital loss prevention and control is the means, then the capital loss prevention is to solve any problems? And answer the way, basically we can find the problem more accurately define ourselves through this White: teacher, I would like to address the prevention and control of capital loss is one of the means of social trust, but trust means to solve social problems more than one kind ah. Teacher: white, you use a layer of problems when thinking thinking liters used when thinking solutions liters Uncertainty, give you 32 praise. White: Thank you, teacher, at this moment I am a little happy ah. Teacher: maintaining stable mentality, you can see more things, no humility, and that its own limitations also arrived. White: Thank you, teacher reminded, I remember.
Three stories read, summarize, these three core story is:

Accurately distinguish between means and we have to solve the problem itself, this is very common, I review a lot of technical solutions in question are basically the reason why there is no clear definition of the problem, so the solution is also not in line with needs.
Use layer liters thinking behind the problem while thinking, using liters Uncertainty in the sub-problem thinking contained
When l think layer, before the issue could become a means / methods. For example, by blocking solve the problem of life and property, blocking method. L think after layer, the problem behind the problem is the livelihood issues of life and property, this time to protect the lives and property is a means to solve the livelihood problems / methods.

Of course, when we can not accurately distinguish the problem, we can continue to shorten the sentence description of the problem, such as the refining SVO, if it is not clearly described, so far the most and then find the key word in this a few words, in particular subject or object in the vocabulary is very important, it is possible to focus only our relentless ignore it.
The program means or when the problem or the challenge as a technical solution of the problem is a problem encountered by many students.

2. Challenges mistake when the "problem"

When we clear definition of the problem, we begin to address the rise Uncertainty scheme, may be given the solution from all angles, these solutions is that we said earlier, means / methods.
For example: If the goal is to quickly reach the destination, and horses, cars, planes, trains only a means / methods, then how to make the horse run faster, how to make the car run faster, how to make aircraft fly faster, how to make the train became faster challenge.
At this point if you say "Let's run faster is also a problem horse ah", indeed, also it can be understood in a broad sense, but I do not recommend it, because I so easily issue and the means / method mix.
So here I try to give them a definition to clarify the scenes in which they appear:

Question: between things in the presence of a certain period of conflicts, in particular in the context of this document refers to the contradiction between the customer and the enterprise something, trend.
Challenge: Several local solutions to the most difficult conflicts.

Then we go back to the above several cases, take a look at the issues and challenges:
back on the block with the flood of cases:
Problem Definition: flooding and safety of life and property conflicts. Tools / methods: water shutoff. Challenge: Get Living Soil to build three yards high embankment, this is the challenge means / methods.
Back Case Ford on:
Problem Definition: How do people reach their destinations faster. Tools / methods: making cars to allow people to reach their destinations faster. Challenge: Design a higher torque, higher engine power, smoother intelligent gearbox and so on.
When we communicate, we can clearly know each other in the end produce is defined in the customer's problem, or in the elaborate scheme of difficulties and challenges.

3. Lack of time thinking dimension

The severity of the different stages of a single question on the time axis is not the same, for example, closed-door policy AD 1500 Year - 1700 can not see much of a problem, but 300 years later, in 1800, on the drawbacks of closed-door policy began to emerge, of course, we are all wise after the event.
Therefore, the severity of any of the questions have a timeline, and then maybe pass a certain point in time, the question will no longer be a problem. For example, the rise of takeout, how better to make a packet of instant noodles to meet the tastes of users is not a problem.
Time dimension is a vital dimension of its influence in the time dimension of anything theory must be considered, so even on the definition of the problem, the time dimension is a dimension can not study. So we need a road map of the roadmap, mark the different stages to solve any kind of problem.

4, liters and liters Uncertainty thinking layer

We can not use the same level of thinking at a problem to solve the problem. --by Einstein

Einstein explained the thinking level of existence of this phenomenon, and here I express another point of view:
We can not just be limited to the issue itself, but also need to see the problem behind the problem before you can more easily find more solutions.
I l layer This method is called the problem of thinking, then I would be referred to the riser layer reflection, I searched the Internet, there is no mention of the word before the people, so the word here in my current copyright Ha, if you want to who needs to convince this way of thinking, I wish to send him this article.

When the problem liter level thinking, in front of the problem will become a means / methods, such as problems behind the contradictions of life and property of the people and the flood problem is the stability of society (and 2 liters of thinking layer 1), and the floods rose Uncertainty and the contradictions of life and property when the flood will find a clear or move all programs (3 liters Uncertainty).
This is the thinking layer liters, liters Uncertainty means / methods. But this figure each question in the end how serious, not given to quantify, but we are at work, we have to quantify the severity of this, and to put up the timeline to quantify, because some of the current problems may not be serious but after a few months it could become a big problem.
It is worth noting here thinking liter layer is dependent on cognitive upgrade, like a child, you may also be able to L level thinking, but the degree of cognitive decided he could think of to layer, so the history, social science, our philosophy is a required course, it helps us recognize that there is a higher level. When the problems of rising, it often eventually boils down to social problems and human nature.
Important as saying three times:

Lack of layers thinking liter liter Uncertainty is not a complete top-down;
Lack of layers thinking liter liter Uncertainty is not a complete top-down;
Lack of layers thinking liter liter Uncertainty is not a complete top-down.

Next, I took a number of cases of lateral thinking online, use liters and liters Uncertainty level thinking of ways to get the appropriate solution:
Example: Visitors sometimes cut some of the debris from the ancient columns of the Parthenon, Athens authorities are very much concerned, although this behavior is illegal, but the visitors still take it as a souvenir. How can the authorities to stop this action?

Problem Definition: how to provide souvenirs to customers?
升层思考：客户需要纪念品的背后是想解决什么问题？是不是解决客户的旅游纪念的需求。
对背后的问题升维思考：要满足客户的旅游纪念的需求有没有其他方法？

明信片：明信片也可以做为一种纪念的方式，有了明星片做纪念，游客敲石柱的比例可能会下降。
现场照片：可以安排现场拍照的摄像师，选择特别的角度为这些想要留念的客户拍摄特别的照片，游客敲石柱的比例可能会下降。
帕台农神庙模型：可以制作各种帕台农神庙的模型，让客户购买，以满足客户纪念的需求，游客敲石柱的比例可能会下降。

对原问题升维思考：

在地上洒上大理石碎片：让客户以为这是帕台农神庙的大理石，客户会捡起地上的大理石碎片带回去留念（这是网上的标准答案）。
进入神庙时寄存各种金属物件：让用户无法用金属去砍古老立柱，缺点是成本高，效率低，需要排队检测金属物件
把柱子围起来，让用户只能在一米开外的距离观看：用户碰不到柱子，自然无法去砍柱子，成本比较低，也比较容易实现。
写标语，在入口处，以及门票上明确指出破坏文物是违法行为，会受到法律的制裁，等等。

网上的标准答案是在柱子旁边洒上大理石碎片（其他的都是我使用升层思考和升维思考瞎想出来的，你也可以想出很多）。让游客以为这是神庙已有的碎片。不过这种方案经不起逻辑思维的推敲，比如开放了这么多年，地上的碎石为什么还没有被捡光？于是游客就知道这是人为洒在上面的，那么有些游客会继续破坏石柱。
我想说的是，这里的升层思考，和不同层次的升维思考会给我们带来很多种方案，如果集合全团队的力量，我们甚至还可以想出更多更多的idea。

例二：在美国的一个城市里，地铁里的灯泡经常被偷。窃贼常常拧下灯泡，这会导致安全问题。接手此事的工程师不能改变灯泡的位置，也没多少预算供他使用，工程师应该怎么办？

问题定义：如何不让窃贼拧下灯泡？
升层思考：不让窃贼拧下灯泡是为了解决什么问题？是为了解决预算不足的问题。
对背后的问题升维思考：解决预算不足有没有其他方案？增加预算？募捐？防止窃贼拧下灯泡。
对原问题升维思考：不让窃贼拧下灯泡可以从哪些维度进行考虑？

焊住：缺点是灯泡坏了之后很难更换。
反向螺纹（窃贼在拧下灯泡的时候其实是在拧紧）：缺点是窃贼只要使用逆向思维就能破解（反向螺纹是网上的标准答案）。
特别的螺纹（特别螺纹让窃贼拿到灯泡之后也无法在其他地方使用）：缺点是需要定制，成本高。
摄像头：缺点是增加了设备，需要更大量的投入。
把灯安装在更高的位置：窃贼得用梯子才能去盗窃灯泡，要看线路是否支持
在灯泡上印上地铁专用标志：别人不敢买这种灯泡，窃贼无法销赃，缺点是多一道工序，灯泡的成本变高。

在这个案例中，反向螺纹是标准答案，缺点是窃贼只要使用逆向思维就能破解。其他都是我自己通过升层思考和升维思考想出来的，其实你也可以想出很多，这里跟逻辑无关。我想说的是通过升层思考和升维思考，我们就会发现很多种创新答案。而不会沿着某个答案一直往下走。
这两个例子是关于横向思维（和升维思考类似）的例子，但是通过我们会发现如果加上升层思考，在每个层次上再进行升维思考，我们会得到很多创新的idea。如果让整个团队使用这一的思考方式，我们就可以得到更多更多idea。

2、是新问题还是新技术解决老问题？

我们做架构的时候，一般都会根据当前流行的技术趋势来解决问题，这些流行的技术趋势其实手段的更新，并不是问题的更新。
尤其是在一些社会性问题以及人性问题上，几千年来问题都没有变化过，只是新的技术手段可以更好的解决这些问题而已。
比如人类有沟通需求，数百年前是通过书信，后来是电报，后来是电话（音频），后来是视频等等。都是技术的革新来更好的解决已有的问题。这就要求我们随时关注新技术，并和当前自己手头的工作产生一定的联想，不同对象之间的联想能力此刻变的无比重要。
当然在一些问题特别明确的领域，比如说数据库领域，要解决的问题基本没有变过，但是问题转换成的指标的值却在一直提升，比如支持的数据量越来越大，插入的速度越来越快，查询速度越来越快，比如最近就有很多通过AI来做自动tunning和AI索引优化的，都属于此列。
类似的例子还有很多，比如Mobile流行的时候，消息的更实时触达是改造各种消息通道的一个契机，会产生新的产品，比如微博，微信，等等。地理位置可以获取之后，也出现一堆新的应用，改造了老的产品。
所以我对自己提了一个要求，任何新技术，哪怕是很小的新技术，都要联想一下可能对现在的工作，以及现在工作的产业链路上下游有咩有什么帮助，这种联想可能不只是个人要做的，而是要驱动团队展开讨论的。目前眼前被提到的新技术有AI，区块链，IOT，5G等等，这些也许可以跟我们的业务产生链接。可以组织团队进行发散型思考。不过这个事情我自己做的也一般，想多跟大牛们学习学习。

3、小结

区分手段和问题
明确问题定义
对问题背后的问题进行升层思考
对问题的分解进行升维思考

升层思考和升维思考有时候是创新的核心，比如鲧用堵治水，他毕生都在思考如何堵，所以他是从堵这个顶点向下思考的，如果对堵进行升层思考之后再进行升维思考，你会发现除了堵水，还可以用疏通的方式，还可以搬走等等。所以创新的关键在于升层思考和升维思考。