Problem Solving 101 by Ken Watanabe, a Review

Want to understand problem solving? Problem solving 101 is here to the rescue!

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart PeopleProblem solving is an excellent and practical skill to have. You solve problems every day, some more complex than others. Where to live? Which university to attend? How to get senior managers to notice me and my work? How to improve the company’s bottom line? Complex solving is also one of the 10 skills the World Economic Forum says you need to thrive in 2025.

There are many problem solving books for sale, but which one should you buy? Another problem to solve. To learn the key skills that the World Economic Forum says that you need for future jobs, I have been reading many books. To learn problem solving, one of the books I read is Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People by Ken Watanabe.

What I liked most about this problem solving book is the author’s practical approach. Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People by Ken Watanabe has many examples that you can relate to. It’s worth the read. He includes images and diagrams to bring the information to life. It’s a pricier e-book but it’s worth every penny. The good news is that it’s now $5 cheaper that when I bought it a couple of years ago.

Have you read?

Summary: The MacGyver Secret by Lee David Zlotoff

Why Ken Watanabe Wrote Problem Solving 101

A former consultant for McKinsey & Company, Ken Watanabe used tools to solve his clients’ problem. In many countries, in schools, the focus is on memorization techniques, but how effective is that? Do students understand what they are learning? Are they able to apply the new concepts in other situations?

Ken Watanabe wanted to do his part in the shift from “memorization-focused education” to “problem-solving-focused education” in Japan. He wrote this book to help kids become better problem solvers. Additionally, he wanted Japanese kids to think like problem solvers. And he also wanted children to take a proactive approach in their education. In Problem Solving 101, Ken Watanabe included the tools he used while working at McKinsey.

Exploring Problem Solving and Other Key Skills

The author, Ken Watanabe, says something in the beginning of the book that caught my attention. He wanted kids to think like problem solvers. That may not sound like something profound, but hear me out, because it really is. Every subject has a certain structure with foundational ideas. If you want to master a subject, you must start with the foundational ideas on which the subject is built. People who successfully master the subject think in a way that the subject demands.

So, if you want to master writing, think like a writer. If you want to master negotiation, think like a negotiator. And if you want to master problem solving, think like a problem solver. This is a secret I learned when I read How to Study & Learn a Discipline. I don’t think this is easy to do. Invest the time learning the structure of the skills you need. That’s what I’m doing.

It’s not just me who thinks this way. In a short video I recently watched, Bill Gates talks about reading and learning. He remembers most of what he learns from books. How does he do it? Essentially, in the video, Gates is saying you cannot read in a vacuum. Work with a broader framework to put the information you’re learning.

The light bulb suddenly went on for me. To make sure that I learn and truly master the 10 skills needed for future jobs, I need to understand how a subject works. And how knowledge works. Learning how to learn is a critical skill you need today to succeed at work and in life.

Master how to learn and know how knowledge works. I read Learning How to Learn, which is based on the popular MOOC course of the same name. Next I devoured How We Learn, which is based on brain science. I plan to read What Is the History of Knowledge by Peter Burke and A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future by Charles Van Doren. And I re-read How to Study & Learn a Discipline, with a fresh set of lenses.

What is Problem Solving 101 by Ken Watanabe About?

Many books on problem solving present a model. This is the case with Problem Solving 101 by Ken Watanabe. The models tend to be similar and related. Think about the last problem that you solved, how did you go about it? You probably tried to understand what caused the problem; gathered information; analyzed the information and find solutions; then tested the solutions. If none of the solutions worked, you would start the process again.

One of the business leaders I interviewed for my first book Tales of People Who Get It emphasized the importance of finding a balance between thinking and acting. And he felt that he spent too much time thinking about things. Watanabe mentioned finding the right balance between thinking and acting.

Problem Solving 101 4-Step Model

1. Understand the current situation (What is going on?).
2. Identify the root cause of the problem (What is causing the problem?).
3. Develop an effective action plan (How can I fix this problem?).
4. Execute until the problem is solved. Make changes as necessary.

Ken Watanabe expands on his problem solving model, so the reader knows what to do. He recommends that when you face problems, take a step back, so you can discover the root cause and how to resolve it. One of the ways to do that is to do research. Collect information to find the root cause of the problem. Watanabe uses an analogy that most people can relate to. The symptom is a headache, the root cause is a fever, and the prescription – the solution – is to take cold medicine.

When you understand the symptoms and identify the root cause, you’re able to generate better solutions.

Step 1: Diagnose the Situation and Identify the Root Cause of the Problem

1. List all the possible root causes of the problem.
2. Develop a hypothesis for the likely root cause.
3. Determine the analyses and information required to test the hypothesis.
4. Analyze and identify the root cause. 

Step 2: Develop the Solution

1. Develop a wide variety of solutions to solve the problem.
2. Prioritize actions.
3. Develop an implementation plan.

In the book, the author mentions that you can use a yes/no tree to figure out a problem's root cause or decide how to solve a problem. If you do not know how to use a yes/no tree he walks you through the process.

If the problem you have is how to achieve a certain goal, he offers steps that you can follow.

Steps to Achieve an Important Goal

1.  Set a clear goal.
2. Determine the gap between the goal and the current situation.
3.  Form a hypothesis about how to close the gap and achieve the goal.
   1. List as many options and ideas as possible.
   2. Select the best ideas as the hypothesis.
4. Check the hypothesis. Go back to step 3 if you cannot prove the hypothesis.
   1. Determine the analyses and information required to test the hypothesis.
   2. Analyze and develop action plan.

Criteria to Test Solution and Evaluate It

1. List all the options
2. List evaluation criteria
3. Decide on the importance of each criteria
4. Evaluate each based on the weighted criteria
5. Select most attractive option

Final Thoughts: Problem Solving 101 by Ken Watanabe

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People by Ken Watanabe is an excellent book to learn problem solving. Reading one book will not allow you to master the skill, it takes reading and digesting at least five of the best books. I’m pretty good at problem solving but right now I have almost finished reading Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens by Barbara Oakley, Terrence Sejnowski, Alistair McConville. I have quite a few good books off the beaten path on problem solving that I haven’t read yet, so I’ll be using my newfound knowledge to read them.

The most accomplished people use books as problem solving tools. They carve out the time in their schedule to find solutions in the pages of a book. Let me help you to solve your own problems. Additionally, this program helps you to learn valuable career skills. Click the link MoreReads Individual Leadership Development Program to buy.

 Problem Solving 101 How to Study & Learn a Discipline How We Learn What is the History of Knowledge? A History of Knowledge

If someone clicks on a link and buys something from Amazon, the company will pay me a small commission. First published in March 2019.