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a question I like to ask to my reports is "are you solving a problem or are you solving a puzzle?" puzzles are neat! They're a lot of fun! But we shouldn't mis
by zemo 7y ago
a question I like to ask to my reports is "are you solving a problem or are you solving a puzzle?"
puzzles are neat! They're a lot of fun! But we shouldn't mistake puzzles for problems. Just because something isn't right or doesn't fit together doesn't mean that it matters. You can do great engineering work coming up with beautiful solutions, making order and beauty out of something that doesn't work quite right but provide no value whatsoever if the thing you were working on solving wasn't actually a problem for anybody.
- mettamage 7y agoAren't puzzles a subclass of problems? Isn't a problem simply a question that has a solution? It made me think about the definition of the word problem. Here is one list: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/problem https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/problem
- ken 7y agoI don't think either word, "puzzle" or "problem", requires it to have a solution. I would say the distinction is that the purpose of a puzzle is in the act of solving, while the purpose of a (business) problem is to have the solution.