Sign in | Recent Site Activity | Report Abuse | Print Page | Powered By Google Sites
- Drill and Practice
- Simulations
- Instructional Games
- Problem-solving Programs


Problem-Solving Skills for Software Developers: Why & How to Improve

Problem-solving skills go hand-in-hand with software development. Learn some great problem-solving techniques and tips for improvement here!
Software developer jobs today require that you possess excellent problem-solving skills , and for good reason. Unfortunately, there seems to be a sort of talent gap when it comes to this one skill required of all software developers.
Troubleshooting and problem resolution are both informally and formally taught, but you mostly find that software developers have to learn problem-solving skills on their own. This is true for self-taught developers , obviously, but also even for those with software engineering degrees or who’ve graduated from coding boot camps.
This is why it’s necessary to acquaint yourself with the problem-solving process, whether you are a newbie or an experienced developer. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about problem-solving so you can 10x your software development career.

What are Problem-Solving Skills?
As a developer, what do we mean by problem-solving? Let’s attempt a simple definition.
In software development, problem-solving is the process of using theories and research to find solutions to a problem domain, while testing different ideas and applying best practices to achieve a desired result. Problem-solving also has to do with utilizing creativity and logical thought processes to identify problems and resolve them with software.
Becoming a great software developer hinges more on learning algorithms than programming languages or frameworks . And algorithms are simply step-by-step instructions to solve a given problem.
Read More : How to Build a Software Engineer Portfolio (With Examples & Tips)
Why are impeccable problem-solving skills crucial?
Making good use of a computer language can be likened to being a skilled writer. An effective writer must know how to construct sentences and use grammar appropriately. There’s more to writing than just knowing all the words in the dictionary, and that’s how it works for developers, too.
You have different tasks to work on as a software developer, including perhaps designing, coding, and troubleshooting. Much of your time will be spent on identifying problems, spotting and correcting bugs, and making sense of codebases from before you started working there. Being ingenious at problem-solving is essential in creating incredible solutions to issues that arise throughout software development.
To demonstrate ingenuity, let’s consider Google’s autocomplete tool as an example.
The autocomplete tool is built to suggest related terms in the search bar as you type. The idea behind the tool is to reduce more than 200 years of time spent typing daily and to help users save time by up to 25% while typing.
Here’s what had to be done:
- To activate real-time completion of suggestions, the UI experience and JavaScript had to be implemented.
- Next, since users could type just about anything, the autocomplete suggestions had to be compiled into a sensible list dependent on user input.
- Then, Google had to create a back-end sustainability system for this function. Doing this meant massively increasing its infrastructure to accommodate all forms of data query and HTTP requests.
- Finally, the user interface had to be refined by software engineers in order to make sure that every user enjoyed a worthwhile experience. So they employed Google Trends to power the auto-completion tool while using algorithms to take out explicit or offensive predictions in line with Google’s auto-completion policy.
This is just one of Google’s innumerable problem-solving examples, but it’s clear to see that solving problems involves more than just telling a computer to do stuff. It’s about your ability to come up with parameters rightly tailored to target users so they can meet their goals.
So why must developers focus on problem-solving at work?
Software developers work with a wide range of people and departments, and it’s common to discover that some clients and teams find it difficult to define what they want. As a problem solver, it’s up to you to help them identify their needs and communicate their thoughts in an effective way.
Of course, you’ll need time and practice to develop your problem resolution ability. That’s because it’s less about solving problems faster but more about coming up with the best solution . And then you’ll need to deploy that solution.
Read More : Common Interview Questions for Software Developer Jobs (Non-Technical)
Types of problem-solving skills
Now let’s talk about four types of problem-solving skills for developers:
1. Parallel thinking
As a software developer, parallel thinking is a crucial skill necessary to perform optimally. This makes it possible for you to carry out two tasks that complement each other at the same time (like an optimized form of multitasking skills). Being able to reorder tasks to boost parallel execution can help to improve your output and save valuable time .
2. Dissecting broad and/or complex goals
When it comes to building software, you will need to effectively outline the steps and tasks necessary to achieve your goal. Developers must learn to break large and complex tasks into smaller assignments because this is an important skill that will help you create results with precision.
3. Reimplementing existing solutions
You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. Part of being an effective software developer comes with being able to use already existing tools before even thinking of creating new solutions. Developing problem-solving skills is very much connected to finding solutions that already exist and reusing them.
4. Abstraction
Keep in mind that goals tend to evolve. So if your client comes up with new ideas, that will mean changing your design goals and reordering your tasks. A good programmer must learn to create solutions in such a way that does not require a complete redesign from scratch.
You also have to become adept at abstracting problems so that your solutions can get them resolved so long as they aren’t entirely different from the original issue. You don’t necessarily have to abstract every aspect to avoid more complications being created. This calls for balance by abstracting only where necessary without making narrow decisions.
Read More : Learn 8 Great Benefits of Working From Home
4 Important Tips & Strategies for Improving Problem-Solving Skills
To keep your problem-solving skills and techniques from growing weaker over time, you need to exercise them non-stop. As they say: practice makes perfect!
To train the problem-solving side of your brain, these four tips and strategies can help you improve your abilities:
1. Make problem-solving a part of your life
Never restrict yourself to working on problems only during work hours. Don’t make it a chore, but, instead, do things that make problem-solving look fun. The game of chess, solving puzzles, and playing video games that compel you to think critically will help strengthen your problem-solving skills, and you can tell your significant other you are advancing your career! 🙂
When you come to a complex problem in your life, whether it’s budgeting for a home or renovating the downstairs bathroom, approach it both creatively and critically. Ask yourself: What would a great software engineer do in this situation?
2. Use different platforms to solve problems
Proffer solutions to a set of problems without restricting yourself to one platform. Using different platforms and tools regularly helps make sure you become flexible as a problem-solver. And it makes sense, because there really is no universal solution for the different problems that pop up in your line of work. Trying out different platforms to solve different problems helps you to keep an open mind and enables you to test out different techniques when looking to find solutions.
Read More : 12 Common Mistakes Keeping You From Landing Your First Developer Job

3. Be open to assistance from external sources
Part of being a good software developer comes with being able to ask for help and also accept all forms of feedback. You might need a different opinion or a new set of eyes to help find the most fitting solution to some problems. It makes sense to view building problem-solving skills as more of a team effort rather than a personal journey.
Have an open mind and heart to function not only as an individual but also as a collective. It’s a utopian working environment where everyone supports each other to become better versions of themselves. So if you come across an issue that keeps you stuck, get help! You may find someone who has a more refined framework or method you never knew existed or would have thought of using. You could then learn from them and add their solution to your toolkit.
Get feedback often, as well. This could be the catalyst to making improvements to your processes and evolving them into something truly refined.
4. Tackle new problems using lessons from past solutions
As you practice and finesse your ability to identify problems and find solutions, you’ll begin to notice patterns. It’s more like developing your toolbox armed with a wide range of solutions that have proved useful in the past. So when problems emerge, you will notice how easy it is to take some of those old solutions and apply them to the new problem.
The more you attempt to apply creativity in solving problems, the more you grow your skills. In the long run, that will help you find the right solutions faster and apply them to a wide range of problems more naturally. It’s all about improving the effectiveness and efficiency with which you tackle new problems while applying only the best possible solutions.
Read More : How to Stay Motivated at Work
3 Complementary Skills to Improve to Become a Good Problem Solver
Developing software is mostly about problem-solving at the very core before even writing your first lines of code. You have to identify problems that can be solved using software. Then you have to go on to understand how people try to solve such problems in real life.
It’s up to you to come up with a framework that allows you to take both the problem and the solution and convert them into computer code. And you have to do this in such a way that makes the software even more efficient and effective than a human.
While going through this process, developers also have to handle other problems such as deadline deliveries, checking for bugs and fixing them, and collaborate across teams. So, supporting skills must not be overlooked.
Software developers must build interpersonal skills and collaboration skills . Being able to empathize, accept feedback, handle criticism, listen intently, and show respect for others are all important characteristics and abilities necessary for teamwork, and, thus, necessary for solving problems on the job.
Read More : 5 Ways to Stand Out & Get Noticed in Your Current Development Job
Communication
No one is an island, and that’s true when you consider how software engineers work. Building software requires keeping up with clients and teammates and other departments. You can’t afford to be a Lone Ranger, at least not 100% of the time, and that’s why employers always look for good communication skills.
Being a good software developer also involves how well you can break down very complex concepts to laypeople. You want to be the kind of person who fixes a problem and is able to explain how you were able to do it. It’s all about your ability to be clear and articulate about every aspect of your work. And you want to be able to communicate not just verbally but also in written form.
To build your communication skills as a developer, you can learn from more experienced people and observe how they interact with their clients. And, don’t forget, with more and more companies becoming global enterprises and going remote, it’s important to brush up on your intercultural communication skills , as well.
Logical thinking
The difference between elite software developers and average ones is often said to be logical thinking. The ability to process thoughts logically is important, because you’ll often spend most of your time finding and fixing bugs rather than writing code.
Problems can show up from just about anywhere, even from what seems to be the most insignificant errors. So, your ability to detect software issues and solve these problems using deductive thought processes is a vital ingredient to your success as a software developer.
Read More : Questions to Ask at Interviews for Software Engineering Jobs
Problem-Solving Stages & Practices
There are countless problem-solving processes and various schools of thought regarding the best way to approach problems whenever they arise. To solve that problem, we’ve pooled some of these frameworks together to come up with a comprehensive approach to problem-solving.
Step 1 – Define the problem
You have to first start with problem identification. Knowing what you are dealing with is important, because you don’t want to risk spending valuable time applying wrong solutions. Avoid making automatic assumptions. Even when the symptoms look familiar, you want to investigate properly because such signs could be pointing to something else entirely.
Problems in software development come in different sizes and scopes. You could be having trouble getting some aspects of the product to respond in the desired way. Or maybe you’re having issues trying to decipher a codebase section where you can no longer communicate with the original developers. Sometimes, the problem could come in the form of an unfamiliar error message and you’re at loss.
Once you’re able to define the problem, make sure to document it.
Step 2 – Analyze the problem
Now it’s time to carry out problem analysis . Before deciding what problem resolution methods to adopt, it’s necessary to find out all there is to the issue, which builds on our first step. This will make it easier to come up with ideas and solutions later on.
Problem analysis isn’t always a walk in the park. There are times when the problem involves a very small mistake such as failing to import a package correctly or a small syntax error. Other times, however, it could be such a huge error, like the entire program acting differently than what you want. There might be no alarms or blinking red lights to tell you what the exact problem is.
If you encounter such situations, you can find answers by articulating the problem. Document what you intend to do, what you’ve done, the original intention for the program, and where you currently are. Communication comes in handy here, of course, not just in your documentation, but also in how you relay it to your teammates.
Read More : Got a Busy Developer Schedule? Here’s How to Keep Learning & Make Time
Step 3 – Brainstorm
This step has to do with generating ideas, and you can benefit from discussing the problem with a team and then coming up with ways to get it fixed. Keep in mind that problem-solving at work involves interacting with a diverse group of people where the individuals have unique skill sets and experiences.
Many developers tend to neglect the previous steps and rush straight into brainstorming. That’s definitely not a good way to go about problem-solving. The idea is not to skip the important steps in the process.
Once you get to the point where ideas need to be generated, do not discard any, because this step relies on a wide range of ideas. Only after gathering as many perspectives as possible should you then begin reviewing and narrowing down to the best possible solution.
Step 4 – Make a decision
At this point, all viable solutions have to be analyzed before selecting the most appropriate one to implement. Picking the best possible solution depends on its ability to meet certain criteria. It must be suitable, feasible, and then acceptable.
What it means is that the solution must be able to get the problem solved. It should also be easy to see how such a solution fits into the equation. And then every member of the team involved in the brainstorming process has to unanimously accept the solution.
Read More : How to Network as a Software Engineer
Step 5 – Implement
After identifying and choosing the solution, the next logical step is to plan out the implementation process and then execute it. Coming up with a detailed plan is crucial if the solution is to be a success.
Now this plan must detail all the necessary steps required to implement the solution. It will also explain the length of time and stages of work required. Once all of that is put in place, you can then move forward with the execution. The idea is not just to execute a solution but to do it the right way.
Implementation using automated tests can help to keep unexpected issues from arising in the future. Some other problem-solving practices or approaches begin the process with this step. So, whenever any changes are made to the project, tests asserting that the changes will perform as required will be written first before the changes are then made.
Step 6 – Evaluate
No problem-solving process can be deemed comprehensive enough if there is no room for evaluation. Whatever the solution may be, it has to undergo strict evaluation in order to see how it performs. That will also help determine whether the problem still exists and the extent to which such an issue keeps recurring.
In the event that the problem persists despite the implementation of a detailed plan, then the developer and team may even have to restart the problem-solving process. However discouraging that may sound, at least you’ll have caught it early enough. And, this also proves the process worked.
Read More : How to Become a Software Engineer: Education, Steps & Tips for Success

Final Thoughts
Developing problem-solving skills is quite necessary for software developers. To be a successful problem solver, you will need lots of years down the line to practice what you study.
Always remember that you are a problem solver first before anything else. There is more to building software than just understanding the tech behind it and writing lines of code. It’s all about improving your ability to identify problems and find solutions, and that will need lots of experience on your part.
Never shy away from problems, but learn to think critically and logically in any situation. By applying the six-step strategy for problem-solving at work discussed in this piece, you will be more equipped to come up with the most effective and efficient solutions.
We hope you enjoyed reading our guide on how to solve a problem as a software developer and ways to improve skills as a problem solver! If you have any questions, feedback, or other great problem-solving techniques or methods, let us know in the comments below 🙂
The Arc team publishes insightful articles and thought leadership pieces related to software engineering careers and remote work. From helping entry-level developers land their first junior role to assisting remote workers struggling with working from home to guiding mid-level programmers as they seek a leadership position, Arc covers it all and more!
Join the discussion Cancel reply
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Further reading

Ready to Take On a Senior Role or Leadership Position as a Developer?

Here Are 43 of the Best Online Developer Communities to Join in 2023

Key Analytical Skills for Developers (& How to Continually Improve Them)

Here’s When You Can TRULY Call Yourself a “Senior” Software Developer

Time Management Skills for Developers: Best Tips, Tools, and Strategies

Software Engineer Degree: Pros, Cons & Alternatives
DIGITALIZATION OF QUALITY
- +1 734-761-4940
- [email protected]

Problem Solver Software
Corrective and preventive action capa.

Effectively tracking issues, concerns, and knowledge are part of an organization's continual improvement strategy. When an issue is raised by a customer, management will want to receive status updates on whether the concerned team has started working towards resolving it on priority. Omnex’s Problem Solver aids as a common tool and knowledge bank to track, manage, and resolve problems. Problem Solver is designed to be a single repository of all internal and external problems. Acknowledging Integrated Management Systems, we have developed our software to handle a variety of quality assurance (external and internal), environmental, and health and Safety issues.
Problem Solver software is compliant with the following standards:
- ISO 9001:2015
- Aerospace AS9145
Request for Demo
Features & Benefits (Problem Solver Software)
Manage problems and incidents.
- One comprehensive, integrated tool for all problems and incidents.
Track Closure of Investigations
- Define timelines and metrics for problem resolution, from the problem itself, to: containment, correction, corrective action, reporting, all the way to closure.
Problem Solving Approaches
- Respond to customers in preferred formats, including: 8D, 7D, PRR, CAR, LO, Advanced CAR, or “Just-do-it” formats defined by the customer.
Problem Solving Tools
- Utilize 5Why, Is/Is Not, 5W2H, Cause and Effect Diagram (Ishikawa/Fishbone) seamlessly.
Linkage to FMEA
- Connect 8D/Problem Solving to FMEA, linking detection to prevention.
Supplier Corrective Action
- Empower suppliers to complete supplier corrective action.
Escalation to Closure
- Ensure escalation to ensure effective closure.

Case Study & White papers

Digitalization of FMEA, Control Plan, and other APQP/PPAP documents using EwQIMS - Enterprise FMEA Solution
A global leader in the development and production of high-precision bearings for aerospace, defense, medical, dental, and high-tech...

White Paper: Best Auditing Practices using Software
Enterprise today is juggling many standards. An audit tells an organization whether it is adhering to statutory and regulatory requirements and established objectives.

Focus on APQP/PPAP Documentation
The global growth objectives of the customer were hampered by the spreadsheets and silo-based client-server applications that lacked standardization as it is with 75% of the automotive supply base.

Digital Transformation of Enterprise Quality
This Automotive Tier-1 wiring harness company was established in 1941 and is one of the world’s leading independent automotive component manufacturers.

Digitalization of PPAP Documentation Solution Case Study
A global Aerospace organization with several plants in product and process development had challenges with centrally managing all design/process artifacts that were created

The New AIAG-VDA FMEA First Edition White Paper
The AIAG-VDA FMEA Handbook , released in June 2019 has begun to gain popularity in the Automotive Industry globally. Both US and European OEMs have started to require the use

Virtual Supplier Quality Management Solution powered by AI
Managing suppliers virtually with an Enterprise supplier quality solution is a requirement in today’s environment. A “new normal” is emerging where the ability
Who We Work With
100,000+ globally has embraced Digitalization of Quality
- Caterpillar
- Cooper-Standard
- TI Automotive
From Percent Rejects to Parts Per Billion Moving Towards Zero Defects
Quality improvement and defect prevention start with a disciplined, new-product development process that includes phase gates...
Empower Your Team With Enterprise APQP Solution
APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is a proven methodology used to develop products in a variety of industries.
Develop AIAG & VDA FMEAs with 50% Effort
Watch the webinar recording to understand all about AIAG-VDA-FMEA and how to develop with-50-percent-Effort...
Implementing A Zero Defects Program
This webinar is dedicated to exploring the ways in which APQP incorporates and uses lessons from the past, using break-through product and process design...

Let's Connect
Tell us how we can help you in your Digitalization Journey.
Omnex Inc., is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We will only use your information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you requested from us. From time to time, we will contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time, please review our Privacy Policy .
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- Skip to footer
Additional menu

9 essential problem solving tools: the ultimate guide
July 7, 2020 by leannearmstrong
By: Leanne Armstrong
Some studies have suggested that the average business professional spends 3 hours every week solving work-related problems!
Problem solving may unfold differently depending on the industry, or even the department you work in. But most of us will agree that before you can fix any issue, you need to be clear on what it is, why it’s happening, and what your ideal long-term solution will achieve.
Understanding both the nature and the cause of a problem is the only way to figure out which actions will help you resolve it.
And given that most problem-solving processes are part inspiration, part perspiration, you’ll be more successful, more often, if you can reach for a problem solving tool that facilitates collaboration, encourages creative thinking, and makes it easier to implement the fix you devise.
We’ve put together this roundup of versatile problem solving tools and software to help you and your team map out and repair workplace issues as efficiently as possible. The problem solving tools include three unique categories: problem solving diagrams, problem solving mind maps, and problem solving software solutions. They include:
- Fishbone diagrams
- Strategy maps
- Mental maps
- Concept maps
- Layered process audit software
- Charting software
- MindManager
Let’s get started!
[Free Webinar] Lean Six Sigma: What it is and why you’ll want to use it on your next project
Problem solving diagrams
Mapping your way out of a problem is the simplest way to see where you are, and where you need to end up.
Not only do visual problem maps let you plot the most efficient route from Point A (dysfunctional situation) to Point B (flawless process), problem mapping diagrams make it easier to see:
- The root cause of a dilemma
- Steps, resources, and personnel associated with each possible solution
- The least time-consuming, most cost-effective options
A visual problem solving process help to solidify understanding and are a great way for you and your team to transform abstract ideas into a practical, reconstructive plan.
Here are three examples of common problem mapping diagrams you can try with your team.
1. Fishbone diagrams
Fishbone diagrams are a common problem solving tool so-named because, once complete, they resemble the skeleton of a fish.
With the possible root causes of an issue (the ribs) branching off from either side of a spine line attached to the head (the problem), dynamic fishbone diagrams let you:
- Lay out a related set of possible reasons for an existing problem
- Investigate each possibility by breaking it out into sub-causes
- See how contributing factors relate to one another

2. Flowcharts

3. Strategy maps

Problem solving mind maps
Problem solving mind maps are especially valuable in visualization. Because they facilitate the brainstorming process that plays a key role in both root cause analysis and the identification of potential solutions, they help make problems more solvable.
Mind maps are diagrams that represent your thinking. Since many people struggle taking or working with hand-written or typed notes, mind maps were designed to let you lay out and structure your thoughts visually so you can play with ideas, concepts, and solutions the same way your brain does.
By starting with a single notion that branches out into greater detail, problem solving mind maps make it easy to:
- Explain unfamiliar problems or processes in less time
- Share and elaborate on novel ideas
- Achieve better group comprehension that can lead to more effective solutions
Mind maps are a valuable problem solving tool because they’re geared toward bringing out the flexible thinking that creative solutions require. Here are three types of problem solving mind maps you can use to facilitate the brainstorming process.
4. Mental maps

5. Idea maps

6. Concept maps

Problem solving software solutions
Problem solving software is the best way to take advantage of multiple problem solving tools in one platform. While some software programs are geared toward specific industries or processes – like manufacturing or customer relationship management, for example – others, like MindManager , are purpose-built to work across multiple trades, departments, and teams.
Here are three problem-solving software examples.
7. Layered process audit software
Layered process audits (LPAs) help companies oversee production processes and keep an eye on the cost and quality of the goods they create. Dedicated LPA software makes problem solving easier for manufacturers because it helps them see where costly leaks are occurring and allows all levels of management to get involved in repairing those leaks.
8. Charting software
Charting software comes in all shapes and sizes to fit a variety of business sectors. Pareto charts, for example, combine bar charts with line graphs so companies can compare different problems or contributing factors to determine their frequency, cost, and significance. Charting software is often used in marketing, where a variety of bar charts and X-Y axis diagrams make it possible to display and examine competitor profiles, customer segmentation, and sales trends.
9. MindManager
No matter where you work, or what your problem-solving role looks like, MindManager is a problem solving software that will make your team more productive in figuring out why a process, plan, or project isn’t working the way it should.
Once you know why an obstruction, shortfall, or difficulty exists, you can use MindManager’s wide range of brainstorming and problem mapping diagrams to:
- Find the most promising way to correct the situation
- Activate your chosen solution, and
- Conduct regular checks to make sure your repair work is sustainable
MindManager is the ultimate problem solving software .
Not only is it versatile enough to use as your go-to system for puzzling out all types of workplace problems, MindManager’s built-in forecasting tools, timeline charts, and warning indicators let you plan, implement, and monitor your solutions.
By allowing your group to work together more effectively to break down problems, uncover solutions, and rebuild processes and workflows, MindManager’s versatile collection of problem solving tools will help make everyone on your team a more efficient problem solver.
Lean Six Sigma is one powerful problem solving and efficiency auditing technique that can be accomplished using MindManager. Watch this webinar for a full overview of what Lean Six Sigma is, and how MindManager fits into the process.
Related articles
- 5 steps to problem solving proficiency
- 9 problem solving tools you should be using with your team

Lean Six Sigma is a powerful problem solving technique that helps find, and solve, even the most complex issues in project, workflows, and systems. Watch this webinar to learn the basics of Lean Six Sigma, examples of where and how to use it, and a primer on how to get started.
Ready to take the next step?
MindManager helps boost collaboration and productivity among remote and hybrid teams to achieve better results, faster.

Why choose MindManager?
MindManager® helps individuals, teams, and enterprises bring greater clarity and structure to plans, projects, and processes. It provides visual productivity tools and mind mapping software to help take you and your organization to where you want to be.
Explore MindManager

Agata Solnica
December 12 2021
Business problem solving softwares – 4 examples of software solutions that allows to handle business problems
It is undeniable that software is an incredibly powerful tool that shapes the world we know. With custom software development, we can design software solutions unachievable in any other way. However, the number of possibilities may lead to creating over-extensive solutions, with a number of unnecessary functions.

Understanding of the business problems you are trying to solve is as significant as the quality of used technology. That is why it’s vital to place the same priority on the project’s business objectives and technology. To achieve that, the development team should consist of both tech (developer, QA, tech lead) and business (product manager / owner) talents. To achieve the product-problem fit, it is crucial to identify particular points of a process and evaluate which ones should and can be improved by business software solutions. Luckily, there is a number of methodologies that help to identify and design the problem-solving software to the core problem . Below you will find a list of four common business problems, possible to address with both off-the-shelf and custom software development solutions.
Business management software as a tool for managing operations in a scaling organization
The dynamic organization growth entails all sorts of challenges – from imbalanced culture (increasing number of employees), through inefficient business operation systems to overgrown organizational structure.
The truth is that an organization can grow as fast as its weakest link. At the early stage of the company’s life, it is super challenging to predict where business problems can occur. As we know, no two companies in the world are the same – thousands of processes and specific conditions affect the organization’s situation. Because of this, the usage of problem-solution software often requires remodeling of the company’s operations or structure to its particular conditioning.
Problem The rapidly growing number of clients in the accounting company followed significant scaling challenges in operational processes. The reason is that the cost of service per single client was significantly higher compared to online accounting services. Conducted in-depth process analysis revealed that the primary source of problems were an inefficient external communication system and highly time-consuming document processing procedures.
Solution Custom software development allowed to create business management software that precisely addressed each of the identified bottlenecks.
- Integrated solution for quick scanning of high volume of documents, paired with OCR and automatic document classification and semi-automatic verification.
- Back office application streamlining the process of document handling. Document workflow integrated with main accounting software, allowing to integrate both documents at the accounting office and uploaded by the customers.
- Desktop application resembling dropbox – allowing upload of all accounting documents by customers, often eliminating the need to send physical documents.
- Web application allowing customers to create invoices and have a live preview of their financial data and events or payments (including taxes) due in the given period of time.
Results Applying the created business management software solution resulted in a significant increase in overall company efficiency. The automated system of scanning and processing documentation decreased time needed to proceed invoice. From now on, the accountant was approving automatically processed documents, instead of manual implementation to the system. Automation and increased workflow decreased manual labor, which in turn reduced costs. The overall performance resulted in:
- 9x lower cost of processing a single document / invoice
- 300% increase in number of customers that can be handled by the same team of accountants
- Introduction of non-accounting roles responsible for scanning and document handling

If you are interested in developing your own software, learn how to do it step by step with the software house:
Show me how
Team collaboration software – key to resolve business problems with inefficient information exchange
Exchange of information is one of the biggest challenges in fast-scaling company. Organization’s growth often translates into an increase in the number of employees. Each new person onboard is an additional set of skills, talents, and information. Depending on organizational structure, people work together in departments, project groups, etc. Because of the universal problem characteristic, individual company conditions don’t affect overall communication problem. That is why – in most cases, off-the-shelf collaboration software will pass the test.
Problem Most of the operational activities are grounded in the processes of gathering, proceeding, and exchanging information. Exchange of information is one of the most challenging and universal processes most of the companies have to face. To name a few issues related to storage, access, and knowledge flow:
- Materials often scattered between departments, project groups, devices, etc.
- Chaotic communication divided between emails, chats, calls, etc.
- Lack of access to communication history for all the stakeholders.
- Lack of unified systems to verify employee’s performance or work progress.
Solution Some of the SaaS product solutions can address each of the named problems:
- Google Drive/Dropbox – cloud systems of data storage, make information easily shareable and accessible for all the company members, or chosen groups. Such solutions enable teams for online collaboration space to work on particular projects, including documents such as presentations or spreadsheets.
- Slack – internal communication software. The app creates collaboration space for common work, communication, and file exchange. The whole chat, organized around channels – enables employees to communicate instantly and transparently. All the stakeholders have access to information without unnecessary mailbox overloading.
- Asana – a solution designed to assign, manage task-oriented projects. The project collaboration software includes features such as creating roadmaps, task boards or structuring processes.
- Dropbox – with over 72 offices in the world, thanks to Dropbox Expedia is able to collaborate on multiple projects in real-time. Find more in the video .
- Slack – for Intuit, Slack became the number one tool to collaborate between teams, departments, and headquarters around the globe. App reached an uncomparable high satisfaction rate among the Intuit’s employees.
- Asana – Helped Sony Music to increase creative production capacity by 4x and reduce campaign production time by 75%.

ERP software is a solution for excessive use of resources
Spending too many resources on processes that could be done with way smaller costs is where no company wants to be. Saving resources by improved efficiency or well-structured processes is what we aim for. By resources, we mean all the things involved in the process to achieve desired results. To name a few employee’s time, money and materials. Depending on industry, condition, department, and process – the problem is extremely specific, often unique for a particular organization. In this case, we have two software solutions – custom enterprise resource planning software or off-the-shelf ERP software. Let me introduce you to the story of one of our clients.
Problem Decathlon faced a problem with store safety audits. The foregoing execution of the procedure combined with a growing number of stores was time-consuming and dispersed. The reports were in a printable form; the audit proceeded with the use of paper documentation and excel spreadsheets. This form was generating vast paper use and required time to print and manage the physical documentation. What is more, the end results were scattered, which made it difficult to control the process from one place.
Solution A web application with built-in guidelines about the store safety audit. Thanks to the interactive interface, the use of paper, and related activities weren’t necessary anymore. Additionally, the ERP software is connected with a database, which enables to update the same safety standards or audit tasks simultaneously for all the stores. What is more, the app enables employees to send audit results, report accidents, and day-to-day changes about the particular store. It enables managers to control and maintain the same standards across all the stores and warehouses.
Results The new system reduced the time required to conduct a store audit by 40% and paper use by 95%, compared to the previous system. The app is being used in over 60 Decathlon stores and warehouses now. Real-time reporting system greatly improved safety and reaction times in case of emergency. Last but not least, the reporting system enabled managers to plan future improvements based on the built-in reporting tool supported by the user-friendly dashboard.

Use culture software to foster company’s values
If we could name one thing that outdates rarely and should remain unchanged along with the organization growth – hands down for values. The fact that culture is difficult to measure, keeping this aspect under control seems to be quite tricky. In a small organization, you can deal with this by maintaining old school human relations (1-1 conversation) or providing a comprehensive onboarding process. However, this approach is nearly impossible to scale along with the organization’s growth. Preservation of initial vision becomes more and more challenging with each new employee on board. This problem is especially visible in a fast-growing organization. Because fostering the culture is quite a specific process – it requires both universal technology and highly specific communication. The business solution software to these problems can be solved by both – simple off-the-shelf culture software and more comprehensive company culture software.
Problem Along with extreme organization growth (160% year to year), Airbnb faced difficulties in maintaining their culture. The growing number of new employees each month, entering with their own habits and culture, was bringing completely new DNA into the organization. Additionally, the dynamic environment made it difficult to proceed with the long-lasting, detailed onboarding process.
In Decathlon, dynamic growth and hundreds of physical locations may cause difficulties in maintaining high-standard company culture. Under such conditions, it is easy to lose inclusivity among employees. Despite comprehensive onboarding, it was challenging to foster the values and update employees on the company’s mission on a daily basis. Decathlon took a step ahead and decided to reach for custom software development with a solution that would deliver comprehensive information and the latest news about the company.
Solutions Airbnb CEO executes a “hands-on” strategy. One of the most significant elements is a weekly newsletter written by the CEO to every employee. In the letter, Brian Chesky covers all the most important events of a particular week, future plans, and all the additional thoughts. Each employee can reply to the email and discuss it with the CEO. This solution can be made with the use of any newsletter tool – such as MailChimp or Freshmail. In this video , you can find more about Chesky’s culture-building philosophy.
Decathlon designed an dedicated company culture software for maintaining employee’s inclusivity. The mobile app makes the business software solution easily accessible to all the employees – also those working in the stores. The app includes articles, the latest news, and the company’s plans. The main advantage of this culture software over emailing approaches is gathering all the company’s internal information in one place. Even a new employee can easily reach the full knowledge base. Apart from sharing the information, employees have access to tools and valuable content to enrich their knowledge. In addition, the management board receives exact information about published content performance which helps to produce better quality content in the future.
Result It is hard to evaluate the culture in numbers. However, it is worth to mention that AirBnB can boast of one of the strongest organization’s culture in the world. Decathlon’s culture reflects in very high ratings on job portals . The culture software is actively used by employees, noting over 5000 launches each month with over 500+ active installations.
Problem-solving software wrap up
Despite diversified processes and industries, all the examples above share one common ground. The business software solutions were designed based on real core business problems existing inside the organization. It is undeniably the first critical factor in the result-oriented custom software development approach. As you noticed, some problems may be solved with off-the-shelf software solutions, while others require custom software. The approach depends on the specific company’s situation; that’s why it is important to precede the design-solution phase with equally important process mapping and business analysis process.
Additional resources:
Intuit customer stories
Expedia case study
Sony music creative production
Organization culture
Decathlon culture
Maybe these pieces of content will also be worth reading?

August 02 2022
5 scenarios where IT outsourcing services can help you get your software project out of a tight spot
Sometimes, it’s best to call in the cavalry – an outsourced IT team – to help you overcome your organization’s technological challenges. Here, we have selected five significant cases where IT outsourcing becomes a powerful tool at your disposal.

Ela Mazurkiewicz
July 07 2022
10 Examples of Business Processes You Can Optimize with Software
Today, the right software can help you make your company run smoothly and efficiently while minimizing costs and labor. So, what are some examples of optimizing business processes with software? In which areas, improvement can bring the most tangible results?

June 15 2022
Dedicated software development team on demand – 3 reasons to choose it
When you decide about outsourcing some of your software development work, many options emerge as you’ve done your research. Different services may be appropriate depending on your deadlines are and how much dev work still needs completion. This article should help you to make an optimal decision.
We've updated our privacy policy. Click here to review the details. Tap here to review the details.
Activate your 30 day free trial to unlock unlimited reading.
Problem solving softwares

You are reading a preview.
Activate your 30 day free trial to continue reading.

Check these out next

Download to read offline
Prepared by THE PROBLEMATIC EDUC 190 Group
Recommended

More Related Content
Slideshows for you (20).

Viewers also liked (6)

Similar to Problem solving softwares (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

- 1. Problem Solving Software EDUC 190 Veronica Beltran, Andrea Go, Bae Presbitero Jona Salvador, Arlaj Turingan
- 2. DEFINITION • educational software that provides an environment for recalling information, sequencing, analyzing, organizing, predicting outcomes, and formulating ideas • usually presents the students with an initial condition and then alters those conditions based on the student's response (Wager et al., 1989)
- 3. TYPES 1. skills based - a specific skill is being targeted (e.g. abstract reasoning,logic) 2. input based -the program performs the task of solving the inquiry of the learner (yung naglalabas ng sagot sa equation) 3. integrated -other types of educational tools are incorporated
- 4. CRITERIA 1. Technical Quality 2. Content and Instruction 3. Documentation 4. Motivation elements of the ARCS model (www.ct4me.net/290510deu.pdf) attention relevance confidence satisfaction
- 5. BENEFITS 1. The computer’s ability to deal with data 2. Interactivity 3. Implication in the learning process 4. Active learning 5. Flexibility 6. Reflexive learning 7. Can capture the students' attention to learn and solve problems through the fun graphics. 8. Assistive technology
- 6. LIMITATIONS AND PROBLEMS 1. Facility 2. Requires knowledge in operating computers 3. Copyright 4. High expectations 5. Limited range of objectives 6. Controlled environment 7. Lack of social interaction 8. Novelty effect
- 7. WAYS TO USE • seat work • additional exercise • enrichment activity • motivational activity • assessment tool • practicing a desired skill
- 8. GUIDELINES FOR USAGE In using a problem-solving software, we must consider the following: a. students' prior knowledge b. students' knowledge in handling computers c. target learning outcome
- 9. EXAMPLES 1. skills-based http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/tba/tre/sim- description.asp 2. input based http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-7-gcf-and-lcm- word-problems 3. integrated http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/problem/ 09/CrazyMachines2/merge.shtml
- 10. REFERENCES: All Retrieved on November 26, 2010 1. http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-7-gcf-and-lcm-word-problems • http://www.springerlink.com/content/f5202721w0460423/fulltext.pdf • http://download.cnet.com/Problem-Solving-Skills/3000-2125_4- 10514357.html • http://www.carstensstudios.com/index.htm • www.ct4me.net/290510deu.pdf • http://www.google.com.ph/url? sa=t&source=web&cd=5&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQFjAE&url=http%3A %2%2Fnet.educause.edu%2Fir%2Flibrary%2Fpdf %2FERM0521.pdf&rct=j&q=educational%20problem%20solving %20sofrware.pdf&ei=7wzvTPH9I4SdcbGqsa8K&usg=AFQjCNEyyWYhg 6gFfCFZKVFzkLYGc_ehAA&sig2=X- n_FeWQawHfLOMQJV6jFQ&cad=rja • http://www.slideshare.net/herikah/integrating-problem-solving-and- educational-software) • http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/probl/09/CrazyMachine/m erge.shtml
Share Clipboard
Public clipboards featuring this slide, select another clipboard.
Looks like you’ve clipped this slide to already.
You just clipped your first slide!
Create a clipboard
Get slideshare without ads, special offer to slideshare readers, just for you: free 60-day trial to the world’s largest digital library..
The SlideShare family just got bigger. Enjoy access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from Scribd.

You have now unlocked unlimited access to 20M+ documents!
Unlimited Reading
Learn faster and smarter from top experts
Unlimited Downloading
Download to take your learnings offline and on the go
Instant access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, podcasts and more.
Read and listen offline with any device.
Free access to premium services like Tuneln, Mubi and more.
Help us keep SlideShare free
It appears that you have an ad-blocker running. By whitelisting SlideShare on your ad-blocker, you are supporting our community of content creators.
We've updated our privacy policy.
We’ve updated our privacy policy so that we are compliant with changing global privacy regulations and to provide you with insight into the limited ways in which we use your data.
You can read the details below. By accepting, you agree to the updated privacy policy.
Solve the Unsolvable.
REQUEST DEMO
Brightidea Solve
Clear roadblocks on key projects by crowdsourcing novel approaches from across your technical workforce., discover breakthrough approaches in research, build proprietary advantage in development, fix critical issues in production.
“ Some of the biggest market disrupters, such as Facebook and large enterprises including GE, are currently using crowdsourcing services to solve their most complex problems. ”
Advanced Capabilities to Get Your Best Minds Focused on Your Hardest Problems
Use brightidea solve to find fresh solutions to technical challenges., challenge brief, solution evaluations, mobile collaboration.

Communicate the Problem on the Challenge Brief
Your microsite’s homepage describes the problem’s background and desired outcome, and specifies the timeline during which a solution needs to be found.

Rank Solutions for Viability and Cost-Benefit
Once a potential solution is submitted, subject matter experts can evaluate it with a built-in scoring system. Those with higher scores can then be considered for implementation.

Enable Users to Comment on Solutions—Anytime, Anywhere
Using any mobile device, employees can comment and converse on a submitted solution in real time, helping to evaluate it for viability while on the go.

“ Crowdsourcing has proven invaluable in solving our biggest technical problems, with projected impact well into the millions of dollars. ”

Mike Murray
Open innovation lead, how crowdsourced innovation is driving a renaissance in manufacturing, listen to podcast, leverage internal engineering talent to solve pressing technical problems, read the blog, right start: getting started with solve and optimize.
What Problem Do You Need Solved?
Just One of the Many Apps in Brightidea Programs
Your role as an innovation leader is expanding—and we’re right there with you. explore the other innovation apps in programs..
Transformation
Case Studies
Customer Videos
Content Library
Idea Management Guide
Integrations
Request Demo

Privacy Services Sitemap Status Terms
©2023 Brightidea | The #1 Rated Idea Management Software
The #1 Rated Idea Management Software
©2023 Brightidea

IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Problem-solving software is designed for the use of problem-solving. The software focuses on skills and approaches specifically to problem-solving ability.
With these programs, the software may focus on different methods to allow for students to design solutions to given problems. When looking for problem solving
In software development, problem-solving is the process of using theories and research to find solutions to a problem domain, while testing
Problem Solver is designed to be a single repository of all internal and external problems. Acknowledging Integrated Management Systems, we have developed our
1. Fishbone diagrams. Fishbone diagrams are a common problem solving tool so-named because, once complete, they resemble the skeleton of a fish.
Team collaboration software – key to resolve business problems with inefficient information exchange · Dropbox – with over 72 offices in the
problem-solving skills. This section opens with Kay Gore's review of general problem-solving software. She effectively addresses how.
What do we mean by "problem solving skills" software? These are programs that focus on developing or exercising critical thinking skills by the user, rather
DEFINITION • educational software that provides an environment for recalling information, sequencing, analyzing,. TYPES 1. skills based - a
Our Solve app is problem-solving software to crowdsource fresh approaches to critical problems, finding you solutions to the previously unsolvable.