The Most Efficient and Quick-To-Apply Problem Solving Frameworks





Every memorable debate starts with a problem.



Within the critical thinking community, we grapple with questions as varied as Should animals be used in research?

and Should artificial intelligence Be Used To Decide Minor Court Cases?.



These issues are incredibly complex. They involve countless factors, variables, and stakeholders. Take, for example, the case of a Canadian lodging court that tried to reduce system congestion. Too many people were submitting applications, so the court introduced an AI system designed to filter out less urgent cases and redirect applicants to alternative solutions. It took years of work and the expertise of highly skilled professionals just to put the system in place. And in the end, it still didn’t function particularly well. Human behavior is so intricate that predicting reactions—and understanding the ripple effects such systems have on people’s lives—is a challenge that entire careers are devoted to, often without definitive answers.



To navigate thorny issues, it helps to have problem solving frameworks, those structured approaches that break complexity into manageable steps.



In this guide, we’ll explore several proven frameworks you can apply to both projects and daily life. To ensure the quality of this list, we consulted debate professionals who later built careers in law, public speaking, and high-level consulting. We also gathered insights from our community of more than 1,000 active debaters.



We’ll also suggest related the most complex debates so you can practice applying them.



1. SCQA Model – Define the problem before solving it



One of the biggest reasons problems remain unresolved is that they aren’t clearly defined.

The SCQA model – Situation, Complication, Question, Answer – ensures clarity before action.



It encourages you to:



Situation: describe the current state of affairs.



Complication: identify what’s wrong or challenging.



Question: articulate the key question you need to answer.



Answer: propose a solution or hypothesis.



Let's say you are in a negotiation. You might use SCQA to frame a debate about teenage privacy: Situation: teens use dating apps;



Complication: safety vs. privacy;



Question: should parents have access?



Answer: propose guidelines balancing both.



2. First Principles Thinking – Break problems down to the core



Traditional thinking often relies on past experience or industry norms. But first principles thinking challenges assumptions by deconstructing problems to their fundamental truths and rebuilding solutions from the ground up. This approach asks “Why?” until you reach indisputable facts, then imagines new possibilities.



For example, if you’re debating whether influencers help or harm society, you might question why people follow influencers in the first place. Are they seeking entertainment, community or guidance? From there, you can reconstruct arguments about authenticity and accountability.



3. Eisenhower Matrix – Focus on what matters



When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to spin your wheels. The Eisenhower Matrix separates tasks into four quadrants—urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important—to help you focus on high‑impact work. In a debate, this framework can help prioritize the strongest arguments and evidence. Ask yourself:



Which points address the core question? Tackle these first.



Which tangents feel urgent but don’t affect the outcome? Set them aside.



The matrix also helps you manage your own time when preparing for a discussion on education reform

or AI ethics.



4. The 5 Whys – Dig down to root causes



Many solutions only treat symptoms rather than fixing the actual cause. The 5 Whys method forces you to ask “Why?” multiple times to uncover the real reason behind a problem. A famous example was a tech company trying to figure out why their software wasn't being purchased and retained. It turns out that low adoption of that software wasn’t due to resistance but to poor design and feedback loops.



When crafting arguments about complex issues—like animal testing or social media’s impact on mental health —use the 5 Whys to get beyond surface complaints. You might discover that concerns about addiction stem from deeper issues like loneliness or lack of offline activities.



Problem: Low adoption of a software product.



Why isn’t it being purchased and retained? → Because users weren’t continuing after the trial.



Why weren’t they continuing? → Because they found the software frustrating to use.



Why was it frustrating? → The design was unintuitive and clunky.



Why was the design poor? → There was little user feedback incorporated during development.



Why wasn’t feedback collected? → The company lacked a proper feedback loop with early users.



Root cause: No feedback loop during development → poor design → low adoption.



For highly impactful social media and technology issues, check out our article on the topic.



5. TRIZ Method – Borrow solutions from other industries



Sometimes the best ideas come from outside your field. TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) analyzes patterns from thousands of patents and encourages borrowing solutions from other industries. Developed by engineer Genrich Altshuller, TRIZ shows that innovation follows recurring principles.



Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety is an amazing example



In the 1990s, engineers faced a serious safety issue: fuel tanks in aircraft could sometimes ignite due to flammable vapors. Traditional solutions like redesigning tanks or adding heavy protective layers increased weight and costs, which went against efficiency and performance goals.



Using TRIZ, engineers looked at the contradiction:



The tank needed oxygen-free conditions to avoid explosions.



But it also needed oxygen to allow for pressure equalization and durability.



Instead of choosing one side of the contradiction, TRIZ encouraged them to find a creative solution that addressed both. The result was the nitrogen inerting system: pumping nitrogen gas into the fuel tank to displace oxygen. This reduced flammability without adding significant weight or cost, and it became an industry-standard safety measure.



6 DMAIC – Improve processes systematically



For process improvement, DMAIC offers a five‑phase roadmap: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. Teams using DMAIC first define the problem and map the process, then collect data, analyse root causes, implement solutions and establish controls. It’s widely used in Lean Six Sigma projects because it guides teams through each step and emphasises data-driven decision‑making.



When focusing on a large organizational change—say, whether universities should replace degrees with blockchain credentials—apply DMAIC to structure your thinking:



1. Define: specify the problem (e.g., credentials are outdated).
2. Measure: gather data on employer preferences and student outcomes.
3. Analyze: identify root causes of credential inefficiencies.
4. Improve: propose solutions such as modular certifications.
5. Control: suggest ways to monitor and enforce the new system.



7. Design Thinking – Human‑centered innovation



Design thinking is a non‑linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions. It’s particularly suited to ill-defined or “wicked” problem. The five phases—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—encourage you to see the world through your audience’s eyes and iterate quickly on solutions.



In debates about policy or technology (e.g., AI in education), design thinking can help you generate proposals that balance desirability, feasibility and viability. Empathize with stakeholders, define the real problem, brainstorm creative solutions, prototype arguments and test them.

Putting frameworks into practice



Mix and match. Complex problems often require more than one tool. Combine SCQA with the 5 Whys: define the situation, then ask “Why?” repeatedly to drill down.



Use frameworks in debates. Before writing an argument on VersyTalks, choose a framework to structure your thinking. For example, use DMAIC to propose reforms in the cyberbullying debate or TRIZ to suggest innovative approaches to environmental issues.



Practice on real issues. Our 100 Complex Debates List offers a treasure trove of prompts. Pick a topic and work through it with one of the frameworks above.



External Resources Handpicked for You



To explore design thinking further, Harvard’s Interaction Design Foundation offers a comprehensive overview of the methodology and its five phases. It explains why design thinking is a powerful tool for tackling ill‑defined problems and how it differs from traditional analytic methods.



Structured frameworks don’t take the creativity out of problem solving; they organize it. Whether you’re planning your day or debating the ethics of emerging tech, these tools can help you think clearer, argue smarter and, ultimately, make a bigger impact. Now go forth and solve something, or go debate something, that's how many of the smartest leaders began!



Are you trying to solve important issues in the world of education, check out our debates on the education to make the world a better place!