Problems are something everybody experiences n their lives. Perhaps it’s simply solving a coding bug or a math problem or it’s the problem of choosing a career or a university. Some problems — we consider hard, others we consider it easy. The way we look at a problem drastically impacts the approach we take to solve a problem. So where do we draw the line? What differentiates an “easy” problem and a “hard” problem?
Enter Mister Robert Russ! The individual who coined the terms Wild problems and Tame problems. Let us explore these two terms, what they mean and how these terms are actually useful in our day-to-day lives.
Tame Problems
Firstly, I would like to clarify something. Tame and Wild are not the same as easy and hard. A tame problem can also be hard while a wild problem can also seem easy. So what differentiates a tame problem and an easy problem?
Simply put, a tame problem is where the problem itself can be clearly defined, the goal is clearly visible and they stay solved. Games of chess (Although it’s not easy to solve) are a very good example of tame problem. The goal is clear — to win, the problem itself is also clearly visible and defined and if the “problem” is solved — It stays solved.
One important characteristic of tame problems is this — It can be solved by choosing and applying the correct algorithm.
Wild Problems
Wild problems are the exact opposite of tame problems. That is to say, there is no known strategy or algorithm to solve it. That also means that there is no real right answer. It is variable, in one context an answer might be right where in another context it is completely wrong.
If we just flip the definition we gave for the tame problems, the definition of the wild problem appear. A tame problem can be clearly defined, meanwhile a wild problem cannot be clearly defined — Hence even the solution of a wild problem cannot be clearly be found. The goal of a tame problem is clearly visible, however for a wild problem it is not — A wild problem always evolves and takes a new shape. And so unlike a tame problem that stays solved, a wild problem does not. Rather, it — as I mentioned previously — keeps evolving or to put it simply it keeps revealing itself slowly.
That is its most reveling characteristic— that the more you attempt a solution, the more the problem reveals itself to you. That means each time you attempt to solve the problem, the understanding of the problem changes — as if it takes a new shape.
Now how do we solve wild problems exactly? As we can’t follow an algorithm or strategy and the solution itself is formless — What do we do? I would like to answer the question by taking a look at another concept. Namely, the Cynefin framework.
Cynefin Framework
The key principle can be derived from the way we solve a problem. Imagine trying to solve a tame problem as complexly as possible. Or trying to solve a wild problem as simply as possible.
9/10 times that wouldn’t work or it would prove to be counter-productive. That is why the Cynefin framework was created by David Snowden in IBM.
“Cynefin” is derived from a Welsh word for “habitat”. Why? — you may ask. That’s because of how he defined the Cynefin framework.
His definition — to be exact was “attempting to make sense of “the multiple factors in our environment and our experience that influence us in ways we can never understand.”
What is it for?
To put it simply, the Cynefin framework exists to help us realize that all problems or situations are not created equally and therefore they need different kind of responses when dealing with them to successfully navigate through them.
The 5 Domains
The Cynefin framework categorizes the problems into 5 domains.
Obvious
The problems are easily understood and the solutions are obvious. Solving these problem are easy as you don’t need much expertise. So how do you approach these kind of problems?
Approach
Problems here are well-known so the correct approach is to sense the situation, categorize the problem and then apply a well-known perhaps even scripted solution. Just like how you use the Pythagoras theorem to find the hypotenuse of a triangle.
Complicated
You could say these are the “Known-Unknowns” — You know the questions you need to answer and how to obtain the answers. These are problems that have clear cause and effect relationships. That means anybody can identify what was the cause and it’s effect. However, it’s a problem that would require expert analysis to create a plan. Of course, given enough time, perhaps you could identify the known risk and devise a rather accurate plan. There also may be many correct solutions, not just one. An example is negotiating a partnership agreement, where legal expertise is necessary to navigate the complexities.
Approach
Sense the problem and analyze it. Apply advice from experts to assess the situation to determine a course of action. Then finally — execute the plan.
Complex
If the last one was the “Known-Unknowns” then this one would be the “Unknown-Unknowns” — That is to say, you don’t even know what questions to ask. Even beginning to understand the problem requires experiments. It might seem obvious in hindsight — However, the answer was not obvious. It is also not possible to predict the amount of effort or risks in the path to solve the problem. To give an example, take innovative entrepreneurship. You don’t know almost anything and it is solely through experimentation and research with which you could find an innovative product. So what approach must we take to solve a complex problem?
Approach
Develop experiments as I mentioned and gather as much knowledge as possible. Keep executing and evaluating — develop the mind of a scientist. As you gather more knowledge, determine your next steps. This is a process that might also have to be repeated time-and-time again. Repeat it until the problem reaches the “Complicated” Domain.
Chaotic
The name itself is self-explanatory, things have gone a bit crazy. “The train has gone off it’s rails” and the immediate priority is containment. For example, lethal product defects. The only thing a company can do at that time is issue a mass product recall. This is a problem that requires the “Act before you think” mentality as you need to stop the “bleeding” before you think.
Approach
As I mentioned, ACT! Stop the bleeding and contain the chaos. Once you have a measure of control, assess the situation and determine your next steps. Take action so that you can move your problem into the next domain.
Disorder
A simple domain to explain, if you don’t know which domain your problem falls in — then congrats! (Or maybe not.) You’re in the Disorder domain. Your number one priority is to move into a known domain.
Approach
Gather more info on what you know and what you don’t. Get enough info to move into a known domain.
But how do these domains actually help in solving wild problems? It’s kind of obvious, really. Tame problems fall into the “Obvious” and “Complicated” domains. They are problems that are known and can be solved with a standard procedure or you know what questions to ask you just need expert knowledge.
Meanwhile, the wild problems fall into the “Complex” and “Chaotic” domains. These problems require trial and error through experimentation and intuition and adaptation.
Finally the “Disorder” domain is when you haven’t classified a problem into tame or wild. This is when your first priority is to find out more about the current problem so you can classify it into a domain or tame/wild.
I think the ultimate takeaway is that — not all problems are created equally. Hence, not all problems should be approached equally. Some require you to think before you act, sometimes acting before thinking is crucial as time is of importance.
Thanks for reading today’s post. I post a blog post every week on Friday so stay tuned!