Problem Analysis, Problem Solving, and Related Laws and Ethics
Core concepts
Problem-solving frameworks: identify the problem, analyze causes, generate and evaluate solutions, implement, and review. Tools include cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagrams, Pareto analysis (focus on the vital few), and root-cause analysis-fixing symptoms is not solving the problem.
Legal and ethical knowledge: understand the purpose of laws protecting personal data and intellectual property. Know that copyright protects creative works, patents protect inventions, trademarks protect brand identifiers, and trade secrets protect confidential business information. Understand software licensing (proprietary vs open source) and that using unlicensed software violates law and ethics. Know the concept of personal information (data identifying an individual) and the obligation to handle it carefully. Understand that information ethics covers privacy, accuracy, ownership, and access.
Traps
Questions distinguish copyright (expression) from patent (idea/invention). "Free to use" open-source software still has license conditions (e.g., attribution). Pareto is about prioritization, not root cause; a fishbone diagram organizes causes but does not rank them.
Worked example
A Pareto chart shows 20% of defect types cause 80% of failures; address those first, then use a fishbone diagram to find why they occur.
Rule of thumb
Match the tool to the task: Pareto to prioritize, fishbone to brainstorm causes, root-cause analysis to find the true source.