Pennsylvania
Future Problem Solving Program

STEP 3 – PRODUCE SOLUTION IDEAS

Produce many, varied and creative solution ideas to solve the underlying problem. Use brainstorming variations, force fitting, SCAMPER, morphological matrix and other tools for generating solution ideas. Your goal is 16 elaborated solution ideas.

STEP 3 – Essentials 

1.      Solution ideas must be relevant to both the key verb phrase and the purpose to be scored relevant; they also must occur within the confines of the future scene parameters (FSP).

·         More specifically, a solution idea must answer the key verb phrase and have an implied or stated connection to the condition phrase and purpose to be considered relevant.

·         Note 5: If there is no purpose in the UP, the evaluator must interpret your purpose. In competitive evaluation, the evaluator imposes a purpose logical to the future scene. A UP with no purpose does not explain how or why the solution idea solves the challenge.

2.      Make sure each team member has the same goal in mind before you begin generating solution ideas.

·         Keep a copy of the underlying problem in front of you as you go through the remaining steps so you will remember exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

STEP 3 – Suggestions

1.      Expand your fluency and flexibility by using brainstorming, force fitting, SCAMPER, morphological matrix and categories. For example, generate a list of general categories such as economics, physical health, politics, technology, etc. (or use the list on page 12 of this guide). Then try to think of solution ideas that address the underlying problem from these different perspectives.

2.      Step 3 solution ideas are stated as definite proposals, we will do idea X. Do not state your solution idea in terms of possibility, perhaps we might do idea X. Step 1 challenges are stated in terms of possibility.

3.      To earn elaboration credit, elaborate all of your solution ideas; use who, what, how and why (a pronoun such as we, they, he, she, etc. is not sufficient to count as a who). While it is helpful to include when and where, these will only be counted toward elaboration if they are of a substantive nature ("in the year 2025 in Antarctica" are not of a substantive nature).

·         Who indicates who will implement the solution idea. Identify the group or person to carryout the solution.

·         What indicates what the solution idea is.

·         How describes how the solution idea will work.

·         Why indicates why the solution idea will solve the UP (KVP & purpose), or what you will accomplish by implementing the solution idea.

4.      When you elaborate your solution ideas, try to avoid formula writing. Think of different people or groups of people who might really be able to get your solution idea implemented; do not use the same "who" over and over. Explain how or why your concept is a solution idea instead of repeating the key verb phrase and purpose.

5.      Remember the who in your solution idea is the who that will get your solution idea started. For example, in a solution idea for stress, such as: "parents will talk to their children about school so they won't be stressed out," parents are part of the what. A lot of parents don't talk to their children about school, so something needs to happen to start them talking. A who for elaboration, in this case, would suggest the person or people to do that, maybe the school guidance counselor or the PTA.

6.       Listed below are several solution ideas for solving the UP, Because tourists are causing damage, how might we discourage the tourists who visit Antarctica in 2025 from taking rock samples from Antarctica home with them, so they do not destroy Antarctica's natural environment?

a.      The following solution idea relates to the key verb phrase and purpose of the underlying problem.

·         Delta will charge an extremely high fee for tourists who want to carry rock samples from Antarctica back on the plane with them. Thus the tourists will be discouraged from taking rock samples because they won't want to pay to take them home with them and Antarctica's natural environment will be preserved.

b.      This example tells who will do what so the solution idea will solve the UP. It also tells how the plan works and why or how it achieves the purpose.

·         In 2025, General Electric will invent a robot to guard rock formations in Antarctica so tourists will be discouraged from taking the rocks home with them. Therefore, Antarctica's natural environment will remain in its natural place.

c.      This last solution idea explains the KVP and purpose in the UP, but it does not explain how the solution idea will work.

·         In 2025, tourists will take animals from Antarctica home with them instead of rock samples. This will protect Antarctica's natural environment.

7.      Think creatively and futuristically. Imaginative inventions are fun, but must include how or why explanations. An invention can’t happen just because someone says it will. Use your knowledge and research to bring new approaches to existing ideas.