How to troubleshoot and solve problems

"Problem solving forms part of thinking. It is considered the most complex of all intellectual functions." Thats what you read at Wikipedia. It sound quite complex to achive. But maybe it looks only hard to do for us, because we did not learn much about 'problem solving' in school.

I make my living by solving IT related problems. Most of the techniques I have learned through the daily routine.

If you are stuck with any kind of problem to solve - it must not be computer related - you can find a bunch of information and ideas on the following sites.

The Universal Troubleshooting Process

has good ideas about the reasons for troubleshooting and also nice short stories. The stories are the best way to get to the point and see how someone failed or had success in troublehooting a problem.
http://www.troubleshooters.com/tuni.htm

TRIZ - Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch

is a very interesting methodology to solve technical problems. Think about your problem in a more generalized way. Find a solution for the 'generalized' problem, and then find your way from the generalized solution to your specific soilution. This and many more ideas can be found if you go and hunt the net for information about TRIZ.

Triz - article
http://www.qualitydigest.com/aug05/articles/03_article.shtml

Website about Triz
http://www.trizsite.com/startup/default.asp

Problem solving techniques

- Hill-climbing strategy
- Means-end analysis
- Working backwards
- Trial-and-error
- Brainstorming
- Morphological box
Morphological analysis was designed for multi-dimensional, non-quantifiable problems where causal modeling and simulation do not function well or at all.
- Method of focal objects
- Lateral thinking
and many more can be found in the Wikipedia article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_solving

PDF about Troubleshooting

http://www.westernmc.com/2007/Troubleshooting%20101.pdf