Abstract
This article reviews some major Internet contributions to personal and professional problem solving, while elaborating on a major contribution that offers a great deal to the reader. The article is directed at a reader who has a personal or professional problem bogging her and is looking for a way out of her predicament.
Introduction
The aim of this article is to review some major Internet contributions to personal and professional problem solving, while elaborating on a recent major contribution (http://www.triplacc.com/) that promises a great deal for the reader. The article is directed at a reader who may have a personal or professional problem (http://www.triplacc.com/) bogging her and is looking for a way out of her predicament.
Whilst problem solving is a topic that has received considerable intellectual attention, as evidenced by Wikipedia's entry on this topic, most of the discussion has focused on the analytical structure and history of problem solving without really covering what the daily person needs to solve his or her problem. This absence of a pragmatic and meaningful approach to problem solving is what we try to address here. The approach that we have adopted below is to review the major Internet contributions to personal and professional problem solving, while elaborating on a recent major contribution that promises a great deal for the reader.
Contributions to Personal and Professional Problem Solving
These are reviewed under three separate headings: general problem solving, personal problem solving, and professional problem solving.
General Problem Solving
Wikipedia has provided a brief intellectual account of the history and structure of problem solving. This is a free online encyclopaedia that has good introductory definitions and content on various academic topics. Its main weakness is that its presentation satisfies only an academic curiosity, with little pragmatic analysis of the topic. The writing style is highly technical and as such is not amenable to a wide audience. It does not teach problem solving skills, but merely describes the nature or structure of problems.
The Free Management Library adopts a pragmatic approach to problem solving and recommends good practical books on the topic. Its main weakness is that it offers limited scope, covering only managerial problem solving.
The RHL School provides Mathematics resources for teaching school Mathematics. However, that is all it does. It has limited scope, dealing only with mathematics problem solving, and for school kids only.
MindTools offers excellent tools for business problem solving. The tools are actually specific techniques or methods for business / managerial problem solving. Its weaknesses are that the content is technical and that it is intended for business professionals only.
Thoughts on Problem Solving offers a simple and practical account of problem types and problem solving. It covers a broad range of problem types, but does not address the daily needs of individuals. It also treats problem solving in a general way.
The Mathematical Association of Victoria describes a range of resources on Math problem solving, but covers only Math.
Personal Problem Solving
Web4Health is a health and psychology problem solving site. It is oriented towards personal health problems, and its weakness is that it covers only health.
Wikipedia provides some content on personal problem solving under its general problem solving entry, but again the style is highly technical and therefore is not amenable to a wide audience.
Professional Problem Solving
MindTools is an excellent professional development site with excellent content on self-help and professional problem solving. However, its problem solving component is technical and is intended for business professionals only. It is an elaborate self-improvement and managerial problem solving site.
Free Management Library offers a pragmatic approach to professional problem solving plus recommended practical books. However, it covers only managerial problem solving.
A Promising Contribution
We now look in some detail at what appears to be the most comprehensive, pragmatic, and visitor-oriented problem solving contribution (http://www.triplacc.com/) on the Internet. This site seems to have followed the philosophy that to be of the greatest use to people a problem solving site must combine pragmatic discussions of their personal and professional problems (http://www.triplacc.com/) with merchant products (http://www.triplacc.com/products/products.html) that provide more complete information.
The site provides free information in the form of news, articles, and advice, which direct the reader on what to do to solve her problems. Complementing this, the site also provides merchant products (http://www.triplacc.com/products/products.html) which discuss in detail how the reader can go about resolving her problem.
The site addresses a multiplicity of market segments, positioning them to address the various needs of a visitor over a period of time, and such that at any given time a customer may belong to one or more of the market segments. The market segmentation follows standard practice on the Web for niche markets. Aligned with the target markets are compatible products (http://www.triplacc.com/products/products.html), a set of which addresses a particular market through a separate product catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/products.html). There are four general classes of products offered: ClickBank products (http://www.triplacc.com/products/products.html), Google products, eBay products, and SiteSell products (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/self-employment/sitesell.html). Google and eBay products are presented on each page of the site. SiteSell products are applicable only to self-employment seekers. ClickBank products are grouped into product categories that match the target markets.
The market segments and their product catalogues are as follows.
General Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/problem-solving/gen-prob-solv.html)
This market consists of visitors who want to learn the general methods of approaching their problems. In addition, the customers are grouped into those looking for:
Problem Solving Methods (http://www.triplacc.com/problem-solving/problem-solving.html). These are people looking for problem solving methods not of a personal or professional nature. Their needs are met through the Problem Solving Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/prob-solv-pc.html). Personal Problem Solving Methods (http://www.triplacc.com/problem-solving/personal-problem-solving.html). The needs of these visitors are met through the Personal Problem Solving Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/pers-prob-solv-pc.html).
Professional Problem Solving Methods (http://www.triplacc.com/problem-solving/professional-problem-solving.html). The needs of these visitors are met through the Professional Problem Solving Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/prof-prob-solv-pc.html).
Educational Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/educational/education.html)
This consists of visitors who have educational problems and are looking for solutions. Their needs are met through the Educational Product Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/educational-pc.html).
Employment Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/employment.html)
These visitors have employment problems and want real solutions. They consist of three groups:
Career Planners (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/career/career.html). These people are seeking career advancement solutions and want to formulate a plan for their career direction. Their needs are met through the Career Development Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/career-pc.html).
Job Seekers (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/job-search/job.html). These people have a career plan already and are seeking jobs that fall within their plan. Their needs are met through the Job Search Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/job-search-pc.html).
Self-Employment Seekers (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/self-employment/self-employment.html). These persons don't want to work for another person, cannot work for another person for one reason or another, are entrepreneurs looking for new opportunities or for advice, or are employed persons looking to go it alone. Their needs are met through the Self-Employment Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/self-employment-pc.html), and through SiteSell Products (http://www.triplacc.com/employment/self-employment/sitesell.html). SiteSell offerings consist of SiteSell's e-Commerce Philosophy (http://www.triplacc.com/sitesell/sitesell-e-commerce.html), Site Build It! (http://www.triplacc.com/sitesell/site-build-it.html), Net Marketing e-Books (http://www.triplacc.com/sitesell/internet-marketing-ebooks.html), and SiteSell University (http://www.triplacc.com/sitesell/sitesell-university.html)
Financial Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/finance.html)
These are typical people with financial problems or successful people who want to expand their wealth. There are six classes of them:
Debtors or Persons Crippled by Debt (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/debt/debt.html). These persons have a debt problem and are seeking ways to overcome it. Their needs are met through the Debt/Credit Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/debt-pc.html).
Persons with Miscellaneous Financial Problems (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/general/general.html). These persons are looking for insurance, credit cards, tax advice, and grants. Their needs are met through the General Finance Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/gen-fin-pc.html).
Investors or Investment Seekers (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/investments/investment.html). These persons are looking to invest money. Their needs are met through the Investment / Stock Trading Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/investment-pc.html).
Loan Seekers (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/loans/loans.html). These people are looking for loans. Their needs are met through the Loans Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/loans-pc.html).
Mortgage Seekers and Home Owners (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage.html). These are looking for mortgages or re-mortgages. Their needs are met through the Mortgages Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/mortgage-pc.html).
Wealth Seekers or Accumulators (http://www.triplacc.com/finance/wealth/wealth.html). These are looking for means to amass wealth. Their needs are met through the Wealth Generation Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/wealth-generaction-pc.html).
Health Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/health/health.html)
This consists of visitors with health problems. They fall under the following categories:
Addicts (http://www.triplacc.com/health/addiction/addiction.html). These are people with addiction problems. Their needs are met through the Addiction Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/health/addiction/addiction-pc.html).
Disfigured Persons (http://www.triplacc.com/health/appearance/appearance.html). These people have appearance or beauty problems. Their needs are met through the Beauty Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/appearance-pc.html).
Disable Persons (http://www.triplacc.com/health/disability/disability.html). They have obvious disability and are looking for solutions fitting their predicament. Their needs are met through the Disability Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/disability-pc.html).
Unfit Persons (http://www.triplacc.com/health/fitness/fitness.html). These ones want fitness programmes and advice. Their needs are met through the Fitness Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/fitness-pc.html).
Medically Ill Persons Looking for Alternative Solutions (http://www.triplacc.com/health/alternative-medicine/alternative-medicine.html). They want complementary medical solutions to their problems. Their needs are met through the Alternative Medicine Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/alt-med-pc.html). Medically Ill Persons Looking for Conventional Solutions (http://www.triplacc.com/health/western-medicine/regular-medicine.html). They are looking for Western medical solutions to their problems. Their needs are met through the Western Medicine Catalogue 1 (http://www.triplacc.com/products/reg-med-pc-1.html) and Western Medicine Catalogue 2 (http://www.triplacc.com/products/reg-med-pc-2.html).
Women with Health Problems (http://www.triplacc.com/health/womens-medicine/women-medicine.html). They want alternative and Western medical solutions to their problems. Their needs are met through the Women's Health Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/womens-med-pc.html).
People with Eating Problems (http://www.triplacc.com/health/nutrition/nutrition.html). They are looking for dieting solutions. Their needs are met through the Nutritional Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/nutritional-pc.html).
Psychologically or Mentally Ill Persons (http://www.triplacc.com/health/psychological/psychological.html). These are people with mental problems who want advice. Their needs are met through the Psychological Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/psychological-pc.html). Obese Persons (http://www.triplacc.com/health/weight-loss/weight-loss.html). These are overweight people looking to cut their weight by whatever means that gives lasting solutions. Their needs are met through the Weight Loss Catalogue (http://www.triplacc.com/products/weight-loss-pc.html).
Conclusion
This article has reviewed some major Internet contributions to personal and professional problem solving, while elaborating on a comprehensive contribution that promises a great deal for the reader. The article meets the need of a reader who has a personal or professional problem bogging her and is looking for a way out of her predicament.
World's Best Personal and Professional Problem Solving Site
About the Author
A A Agbormbai is the editor and webmaster of Personal and Professional Problem Solving (http://www.triplacc.com/) - a web site that fills a vacuum on the Web. He has a PhD from Imperial College London and enjoys an interdisciplinary upbringing having worked or studied in aerospace engineering, information systems development, and management.
