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The Future Problem Solving model serves as the foundation to dynamic, creative thinking process and includes the following six steps:

Step 1: Identify Challenges

• Generate issues, concerns, and problems, applying background knowledge to the Future Scene

• Consider major issues and categories of problems in order to think of more challenges

• Select the sixteen best challenges

• Write the sixteen best challenges clearly and concisely, showing cause and effect and tying directly to the Future Scene

Step 2: Select an Underlying Problem

• Consider the major issues in the sixteen challenges

• Select the issues, one that will have a major impact on the Future Scene, for the focus of the underlying problem

• Be forward-looking and proactive, not regressive and reactive, in developing the underlying problem

• Write the underlying problem in correct format, beginning with the Future Scene conditions that are the basis for the idea

• Indicate a desired action to be taken, a purpose for the desired action, and parameters tying the problem to the Future Scene

Step 3: Produce Solution Ideas

• Generate multiple solutions to the underlying problem

• Think futuristically and consider the use of technological advantages

• Select the sixteen best solution ideas

• Check each solution for its relevance to the underlying problem

• Write the sixteen solutions clearly

• Elaborate by telling who will implement the solutions, what action will be taken, and how or why the action will be taken

Step 4: Generate and Select Criteria

• Generate possible criteria that could be used to evaluate the solutions

• Consider the underlying problem and the Future Scene in developing criteria

• Select five important criteria

• Write criteria in question format, with a superlative and in the desired direction

Step 5: Apply Criteria

• Select the eight most promising solutions to include in the grind

• Rank the solutions based on each of the criteria separately

• Identify the best solution as the one with the highest number of total points

Step 6: Develop an Action Plan

• Plan how the best solution can be implemented

• Describe the actions and steps of the plan

• Make clear how the plan will address the Underlying Problem's Key Verb Phrase and Purpose.