problem

Situation that invites resolution

EntityQ621184

Subclass of: situation
, concern

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Problem solving is the process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles, a frequent part of most activities. Problems in need of solutions range from simple personal tasks to complex issues in business and technical fields. The former is an example of simple problem solving (SPS) addressing one issue, whereas the latter is complex problem solving (CPS) with multiple interrelated obstacles. Another classification of problem-solving tasks is into well-defined problems with specific obstacles and goals, and ill-defined problems in which the current situation is troublesome but it is not clear what kind of resolution to aim for. Similarly, one may distinguish formal or fact-based problems requiring psychometric intelligence, versus socio-emotional problems which depend on the changeable emotions of individuals or groups, such as tactful behavior, fashion, or gift choices.

Overview

All data

27 statements · 19% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Opposite of: solution
Has characteristic: undesirability nature of statement: defining quality
risk
type of problem
Handled, mitigated, or managed by: problem solving
Studied by: inquiry
problem shaping
diagnosis nature of statement: often
Partially coincident with: challenge

On other databases

14 identifiers linking problem across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

19%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 22, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). problem (Q621184). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/problem-Q621184