- Welcome to Mind Tools' Video Learning Series. Everyday, we all work through one type of problem or another whatever role we're in. Some problems are quite easy to solve, but others can be very difficult indeed. Min Basadur's eight step Simplex Process, also known as Simplexity Thinking, is a useful tool for when you want to solve a complex problem. Step one of Simplexity Thinking, is problem finding. Sometimes it's obvious what the issue is. If it isn't, then there are a variety of techniques you can use to explore possible problems. Step two is fact finding. Take time to research the problem and learn all you can about what's going wrong, what solutions have already been tried and how the problem affects other people. In step three, you define the problem. Big problems are often made up of many smaller ones. So it's important to identify the problem at the right level. Ask plenty of why questions to broaden your understanding of the issue. To focus on detail, ask what's stopping us. Step four is idea finding. You need to come up with as many problem-solving ideas as you can. You can do this with structured analytical thinking and with creative brainstorming. You can also look at how people solved similar problems in the past. The next step is selection and evaluation. Here you are going to evaluate all your potential solutions and select the best one. There are many decision-making tools you can use in this step. In step six, it's time to plan how you're going to implement your solution. Then step seven is to sell your idea to the people who you need to support it. This might be your team members or this could be other key stakeholders in your organization. In step eight, it's finally time to take action on your plan. Brush up on your project management and change management skills to make sure your plan is implemented smoothly. To learn more about Simplexity Thinking, read the article that accompanies this video. © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Limited.