This article discusses a systematic method for analyzing problematic situations, emphasizing the importance of clarifying vague impressions of issues. The approach, known as the aspectual approach, is a variation of the systems approach and involves examining a situation from twelve different perspectives or aspects. These aspects include goals, elements, structure, functions, resources, and interactions, among others.
A comprehensive understanding can be achieved by transforming these aspects into specific questions about the situation, such as the purpose, involved elements, connections, and necessary resources. The article highlights that this method is useful for analysis, setting goals, and finding creative solutions. Despite its complexity, the aspectual approach enhances confidence, reduces errors, and thoroughly evaluates situations.
Our lives are filled with various events and situations. While we may ignore some, problematic situations demand our attention and action. The question arises: what is the best way to accurately understand a situation?
Psychologists define a problematic situation as “a rather vague, not very clear, and barely conscious impression, as if signaling ‘something is wrong, something is not right'” [1]. The goal of the analysis is to clarify this vagueness and uncertainty.
Many approaches exist for tackling this task. I firmly believe in the systems approach, which allows for a complete and comprehensive analysis of the phenomena being studied. However, even within the systems approach, there are many practical implementations. I consider one of the strongest methods to be the aspectual approach I have developed.
An aspect is a point of view. In systems theory, ten aspects are traditionally distinguished, and with my additions, there are twelve:
How can you gain an understanding of a situation using these system aspects? By converting the names of the aspects into questions:
A deeper analysis is possible by sequentially comparing the situation with the actions within each aspect. For example, the element aspect contains six actions that can be used as follows:
Each aspect has specific actions. By reviewing these actions sequentially, you can accurately describe and understand the initial situation.
Anticipating readers’ possible evaluation of this approach as “too complex,” I assert that this would be a fair judgment if the aspectual approach were used only for situation analysis. However, it can also be effectively used for setting well-formulated goals and, most importantly, for the creative search for new solutions! This creative search, conducted on an aspectual basis, matches and sometimes exceeds the capabilities of classical TRIZ theory. Therefore, once studied, any interested researcher can apply the aspectual approach in each creative process at least three times. This is a substantial reason to remember the list of system aspects and the actions within each.
Are there any drawbacks to this approach? Yes, there are. Typically, when assessing a situation, a researcher relies not only on logic and intellect but also on personal emotions, which can lead to overestimating some factors and underestimating others. Moreover, as shown in [2], there are three filters through which each researcher processes incoming information: neurophysiological, social, and individual. Thus, the image of the situation formed by the researcher always differs from reality. The aspectual approach does not significantly affect emotions or filters, except that:
The details of my approach are thoroughly explained in my nine books published in Russian. The essence of the creative stage process is described in a book translated into English [3].
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