#problem_solving
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jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/10/21/t...
#USA #America #Pattern #Pattern_Language #Thinking #Problem_Solving #teamwork #Leadership #Management #tolerance #conflict_resolution #HCI #Usability #User_Experience #AI
The Iroquois Rule of Six
Iroquois Rule of Six Prolog/Acknowledgement:  The idea for this Pattern comes from the work of Paula Underwood who was the designated storyteller for her branch of the Iroquois (See references belo…
petersironwood.com
October 21, 2026 at 11:49 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/10/06/t...
#thinking #problem_solving #creativity #imagination #sense_making #Leadership #AI #intelligence
Tools of Thought: “What If…?”
What if…? Generally speaking, our thoughts and certainly our actions should be grounded in reality. To take a random, yet extremely poignant example from my own life, human-caused global warming is…
petersironwood.com
October 7, 2026 at 2:37 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/10/02/w...
#truth #lies #Democracy #politics #psychology #con #fascism #Leadership #Management #sense_making #problem_solving
What to do? Whom to Believe?
What to do? What to do?  Everyone seems about to go for the throat. People are not sure whom to trust. Should they trust doctors who spend years and years learning about calculus, chemistry, b…
petersironwood.com
October 3, 2026 at 3:39 AM
newsen.bsky.social
Navigating the Transition from Reactive to Proactive Problem Solving in Organizations#Japan#Tokyo#Organizational_Behavior#Request_Inc.#Problem_Solving
Navigating the Transition from Reactive to Proactive Problem Solving in Organizations
Request Inc. releases a 12-page guide on evolving from reactive problem-solving to proactive and potential problem setting in organizations.
third-news.com
September 2, 2026 at 4:33 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/08/16/t...
#war #peace #cooperation #teamwork #collaboration #democracy #dictatorship #sense_making #Leadership #problem_solving #trust
The Trust Dilemma
Many Paths eagerly took the hand of Shadow Walker. The latter said, “Let’s walk to the top of Wolf’s Back Ridge. We can pick some blackberries on the way. I wanted to tell you about an interesting …
petersironwood.com
August 16, 2026 at 9:18 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2022/01/10/t...
#writing #fiction #story #cooperation #competition #teamwork #greed #panic #hope #problem_solving #leadership
The Mud Pit
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com “This is a test of your ability to survive! This is a test of your ability to survive! There is neither drinkable water nor any food source in the mud pit. Good luc…
petersironwood.com
August 4, 2026 at 6:18 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2022/01/10/t...
#writing #fiction #story #cooperation #competition #teamwork #greed #panic #hope #problem_solving #leadership
The Mud Pit
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com “This is a test of your ability to survive! This is a test of your ability to survive! There is neither drinkable water nor any food source in the mud pit. Good luc…
petersironwood.com
August 4, 2026 at 6:14 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2021/10/05/a...
#problem_solving #puzzle #USA #democracy #America #thinking
An Egg and a Half
If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long does it take ONE chicken to lay ONE egg?  Photo by Alison Burrell on Pexels.com What do you think?  Before we di…
petersironwood.com
July 28, 2026 at 9:53 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
#blame #problem_solving #interpretation #sense_making #story #life
petersironwood.com/2021/05/12/w...
Who’s Got a Loose Wire?
Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels.com I was trained as a scientist. I believe in science. I believe that doing laboratory experiments about how we perceive, learn, decide, and solve problems has merit…
petersironwood.com
July 13, 2026 at 1:06 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
#education #problem_solving #problem_finding #creativity
petersironwood.com/2017/09/25/h...
Horizons University
Different people’s brains seem to me to be predisposed to pay attention to different kinds of stimulation. My musically inclined wife, for instance, is much more attuned to sounds of all typ…
petersironwood.com
May 28, 2026 at 5:10 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
"The Myths of the Veritas" explore #leadership based on #ethics and #empathy
In this chapter, the band of Veritas who are on a mission to find the lost branch of the #Veritas find themselves in a long tunnel with unusual technology.
#seva #ubuntu #problem_solving #fiction #story
May 20, 2026 at 2:13 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2019/08/12/f...
#problem_solving #sense_making #thinking #USA
Finding the Mustard
{A departure from the Myths of the Veritas, this is just some thoughts while making dinner} To the best of my ability, this is the view I had when I was poaching salmon for dinner tonight and reali…
petersironwood.com
May 19, 2026 at 9:44 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2025/04/25/t...
#teamwork #pets #problem_solving
Travels with Sadie 9: Joint Problem Solving
(A play in one act). Bailey: “There’s something in here! I can smell it! Peter Cottontail!” Sadie: [Stares at me] “What is Bailey on about? I don’t smell anything.&#82…
petersironwood.com
May 17, 2026 at 12:06 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/01/15/t...
An important tool of thought is "Scenario Planning" -- make sure you don't focus solely on best case or on worst case scenarios.
#AI #UX #HCI #thinking #planning #leadership #management #problem_solving #design #tactics #strategy
Tools of Thought: Scenario Planning
Scenario Planning is, in some ways, likely to be a very old “tool of thought.” I imagine when our ancient ancestors prepared for a hunt, they would imagine what they would do and where and how and …
petersironwood.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
A short essay on another tool of thought: Do NOT throw out the baby with the bathwater!
#thinking #AI #thought #problem_solving #problem_formulation #decision_making #leadership #management #UX #HCI

petersironwood.com/2026/01/08/d...
Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater!
On Throwing Out the Baby with the Bathwater.  Babies are a pain. Let’s face it. Of course, they are. But they are also a joy. Not only that, they are the future of humanity. Yet, it’s true that the…
petersironwood.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:16 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2026/01/07/t...
#thinking #thought #problem_solving #AI #ChatGPT #sense_making #pattern
Tools of Thought: Symmetry
Symmetry (Original, free-hand drawing by Zoe Colier). There are many varieties of symmetry. Symmetry exists rampantly in nature and symmetry is also incorporated into many human designs. In this sh…
petersironwood.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
Tools of Thought: Non-Linearity. We tend to assume things are linear, but that is less often the case than you might imagine. If you don't know about or take account of non-linearity, you can be in BIG trouble. #AI #thinking #thought #problem_solving #leadership

petersironwood.com/2026/01/04/n...
Non-Linearity
Non-linearity A Chessboard Full of Rice According to myth, the Emperor’s wise adviser once did him a great favor. So grateful was the Emperor that he begged his wise advisor to take any gift she mi…
petersironwood.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
Tools of Thought: Noticing and making use of negative space.
#AI #thinking #thought #problem_solving #creativity #UX #HCI #leadership #management
petersironwood.com/2026/01/02/n...
Negative Space
Negative Space When you look at a scene, it is natural to concentrate on the objects in the scene. So too, when one begins to design, it is natural to concentrate your attention on the things you i…
petersironwood.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:42 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
An essay on "Tools of Thought" -- in this case, about realizing that assigning labels to things need not be thought of as permanent. Things change.
#AI #thinking #problem_solving #problem_framing #ChatGPT #UX #HCI #psychology
petersironwood.com/2025/12/31/f...
Fraught Framing: The Presumed Being-ness of State-ness
Fraught Framing: The Presumed Being-ness of State-ness As I understand it, in Spanish and Portuguese, for example, there is a linguistic distinction between current state of being and habitual stat…
petersironwood.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
Short essay on the importance of solving the "right" problem. Emphasis on the human tendency toward false dichotomy.
#AI #thinking #problem_solving #problem_framing #HCI #UX #psychology #politics

petersironwood.com/2025/12/29/f...
Fraught Framing: The Virulent “Versus” Virus
Fraught Framing: The Virulent “Versus” Virus Like most of us, I spent a lot of time in grades K through 12 solving problems that others set for me. These problems were to be solved by applying pres…
petersironwood.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:13 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2025/12/27/t...
A short essay on using your imagination to improve your life rather than make it worse.
#thinking #thought #problem_solving #therapy #psychology #leadership #management #UX #HCI #imagination #creativity
Tools of Thought: Imagination
Imagination.  It seems odd to bother to remind people that imagination is a tool of thought. I have four kids, thirteen grandkids, five great-grandkids and they all use their imaginations. I also w…
petersironwood.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:16 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
A Happy Holiday present: Another Tool of Thought. In this case, it's a description of how metaphor can be useful or misleading in thinking. #thinking #problem_solving #AI #ChatGPT #decision_making #UX #HCI #psychology #politics #problem_formulation #creativity
petersironwood.com/2025/12/24/t...
Tools of Thought: Metaphors We Live By & Die By
Metaphors We Live By and Die By I love metaphors. I always have. I admit it. I think every youngster does, at least until they are exposed to poetry in English class. I was lucky to have an awesome…
petersironwood.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
#thinking #AI #ChatGPT #representation #problem_solving
petersironwood.com/2025/12/22/r...
Consciously and wisely choosing one or more representations of your problem will go a long way toward solving it.
#AI #thinking #thought #problem_solving #sense_making #leadership #management #UX #HCI
Representation
Representation  “Choose your words carefully.” We have all heard that advice. It’s good advice and choosing a good representation is key to solving problems, but the general point extend…
petersironwood.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:32 AM
jcharlesthomas.bsky.social
petersironwood.com/2025/12/22/r...
Consciously and wisely choosing one or more representations of your problem will go a long way toward solving it.
#AI #thinking #thought #problem_solving #sense_making #leadership #management
Representation
Representation  “Choose your words carefully.” We have all heard that advice. It’s good advice and choosing a good representation is key to solving problems, but the general point extend…
petersironwood.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM