Measures and Models to Assess the Impact of Information on Complex Problem Solving

Abstract

This paper focuses on the impact of information on one important set of decision making or problem solving activities: those which take place within the process of innovation. Innovation has been defined as the process by which an idea or practice is applied for the first time by an individual or organization (Rogers and Rogers, 1976). Even in the simplest terms, it is usually described as complex and consisting of three overlapping steps or phases: (1) idea generation (the innovation must have an idea that generates it); (2) problem solving (the innovation must be developed out of that idea; and (3) implementation (the innovation must be applied or used in some socially or economically profitable way). That is problem solving as viewed within the context of a multi-phase process. In addition, movement or transfer must occur between the phases: the idea generated in the first phase must be developed in the second phase, and the problems involved in its implementation solved, while its actual implementation must occur in the third phase. When such a movement between phases does not occur, the innovation process is unsuccessful. Therefore, unlike the self-contained problem solving, say, in doing puzzles, within the innovation process, conditions and criteria for successful problem solving turn out to be multiple and complex. Both the statement of the problem and the utilization of its results are going to be influenced by factors external to the problem solving unit.