A major contribution to the field of problem solving was made by Polya (1957), who codified four stages of the process: understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back.
The proposed method comprises three main stages: transforming the synthesis problem into a graph theoretic problem; devising the topology possessing special engineering properties corresponding to the system requirements; finding the geometric configuration of that topology that will possess the desired properties.
Dr. Wolff typically attacked one problem, devised new mathematical tools to solve it, then moved on to a new problem.
"The military's core skills are to analyse a problem, devise a plan... and then to execute that plan under pressure.
Van der Meer, in response to this problem, devised a mechanism that would monitor the particle scattering at a particular point on the ring and would trigger a device on the opposite side of the ring to modify the electric fields in such a way as to keep the particles on course.
Derived from the words 'hacking' and 'marathon', it brings together multidisciplinary teams to collaborate intensely over a short period of time to define a problem, devise a solution, and design a working prototype.
Understand the problem, devise a plan for solving the problem, execute the plan, check the correctness of the answer, and eventually refine the model representing the four principal steps for the modeling process.
This way, you can clearly understand the problem, devise a strategy, carry out the strategy, and reflect on the results.
In 1995, he became one of the winners of the German National Computer Science Competition, which involved solving computer problems, devising running demonstrations of the solutions, and surviving a 3-day final round packed with teamwork, oral presentations, and interviews with computer science professors.
It was his favorite method in mulling over a problem and devising its solution.
Originally a cabinetmaker, Bramah became interested in the problem of devising a pick-proof lock.
