Different Style in Problem Solving

Every single people is unique, especially in the way he or she respond for a something. Everybody has a different style in manage and solve problems.

One example is what happened in my office between me and my friend. We faced a same problem. We both had an application that need to be prepared in purpose of integration with other systems. Both applications had its master data synchronized from one source. So we didn’t have to prepare it. Problem arose when the source data is not ready yet and we need to test the application.

What I did to solve that problem? I got deal with the problem by asked things that I did not know with the developer and tried to solve the problem by myself. I prepared my test with only small amount of data, to show at least this system work. After the test, my user asked me for using huge amount of data. I accepted it, because I need to convince them that the system work. So I try to inserted the data into my application’s database and tried to make everything works fine. I didn’t ask many people to help me. Because I think in this case, put a lot of communication is not more effective than doing it by myself. By doing that, I put many risks like having many integrity problem. I also spend many time for doing a lot of technical things, which actually not really sure it’s in on my job description.

My friend came with different approach. He tried to contact our developer to help him solve the problem. He put himself a lot of call with him and our colleagues to find the solution. So everybody knows that he has a problem on it. I don’t know if he already solve the problem or not right know. But I believe he will. Perhaps he will wait until the team who responsible for the source data make it ready.

The story give us an example that we have a different approach in solving a problem. I didn’t really like to involve people for problems that I could handle it by myself. I tried to reduce communication which I thought not effective. Apart from that, my friend put a lot of communication to another people.

I think every side has positive and negative side. For me, I think I should learn something from the way he solve the problem. Communication is one thing which very important in work. By having good communication with another people, you will raise the issue to anyone else, which maybe, related with the case. Besides, in my way of work, I didn’t bother another colleagues so much.

The point is, everybody has different style in solving a problem. It is not a new problem, and yet an opportunity. Why? Because we can have a new insight by learning each other. That’s great, right?