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Discussion on: Got Any Unconventional Hacks to Boost Problem-Solving Skills?

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Ryan Brown

I do a version of this with an actual thinking human being: My wife.

Usually when I talk about work (the programming side) her gloss over and I hear her version of "yes dear, very interesting." However, if I can frame the issue as "I'm stumped having a problem with X, this is whats going on (in as much non-technical terms as is appropriate) and this is what I've tried." or "... these are some of the options I have." She usually comes up with something worthwhile to try. Not having the background her mind is free to come up with stuff I might have missed or discounted subconsciously. Even if its something I might have discounted for one reason, her reasoning may bring it back into the options.

It's a case of different perspectives.

Similarly I liked to bring my programming conundrums to our Database Architect, and Visa-versa. Our different perspectives on how to tackle problems helped us to see things differently and get out of our mind-ruts.

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Ryan Brown

self reply time...

Also never forget that behind most technical problems (in business) there is a people problem that can be solved instead or at least reduce the complexity of the technical problem.

Example: OCR on that faxed in purchase order? Nay good sir, try just letting the sender know of your Email Address to send the document so they don't print & fax while complaining about your outdated system. :D