Sequencing and Selecting

Different issues and problems keep on coming. Some time one have lot of things to worry about at work People follow different ways to tackle the situation. There are many approaches to problem solving depending on the nature of the problem and the people involved in the problem . Any reference on what was done by others in past for such type of issue gives some clue. People take help of various literature . While solving a problem new problems may also arise . Most problem solutions require considerable planning and fore thought if the solution is to be appropriate and efficient

A general approach which is followed for solving problem involves: description of the problem, analyzing causes , identifying alternatives, choosing one , implementing and evaluating whether problem was solved.

Skills to solve various types of problems can be developed by studying the methods used by programmers to write a program. Program is a solution developed for a particular problem . Programmers follow standard methods to understand and break into parts very complex problems and get the solutions. They use the tools : sequencing and selecting for this . They break the problem into number of small processes then sequence the steps involved in one after other order. While sequencing they do select steps according to different conditions and repeat a set of selected steps some time according to requirements.

Placing instructions one after the other is generally called as sequencing. We find this type of sequenced list of instructions in day to day activities. For example this type of lists tell you how to make a vegetable pulao, operate a dvd player, assemble a computer etc.

A decision requires making a choice between two or more alternatives. This is done by identifying the criteria and weighing and rating each alternative on each criteria.

Selection is simply the ability to vary the instruction according to the conditions. For example, in a competition on reciting, winner to be declared by judges, if number of audience turn up is less than twenty and by voting by the audience, if number is more than twenty.

The ability to repeat a portion of the instruction until some condition or result is achieved, is called looping. For example in preparation for a board examination revision of the course every month for last three months before the examination.

One starts thinking in a different way when recognizes and follows these steps. And finds way to analyse and solve big and complex problems. Going through few examples in a book on programming, shows use of this art of reducing problems into simple steps.

Defective problem solving is attributed to the cause of all disorders in the world. Problem solving and decision making improvements cause an improvement in living.