These are the worksheets featured in The 5-Acts problem-solving model. For examples and more explanations, take a look at the full article:

Beyond First Principle Thinking

1. Locating the root causes of a problem

We can only effectively solve this problem if we find its root causes. We do this by dividing the problem into its constituent levels by asking “What caused this problem?” and repeating this until you can no longer separate it. (There are no formal rules that define the size or volume of layers.) After that, we answer the following questions for each problem layer:

Level Problem Succes criterion Fitting Solution Effectiveness
Surface level
Level 2: (caused by)
Level 3: (caused by)
Level 4: (caused by)
Level 5: (caused by)
Level 6: (caused by)
Level 7: (caused by)

2. Analyzing the systems which are at play

After honing in on the problem, we can use our understanding to get a complete picture of the environment and interactions that influence the problem. These interactions are not one-off events but part of a system. Therefore, we should not focus on a snapshot of the problem's context but on the systems that make up the environment that surrounds the problem.

| Environments | What systems affect my problems and why? (remember to locate the optimal level) | How could this help me solve my problem? | | --- | --- | --- | | Internal environment | | | | Bio-chemical (bodily) processes | | | | The 4 natural evolutionary drivers | | | | Personality (knowledge of self) | | | | Human creativity | | | | Social groups | | | | My inner circle: The 4 closest people to me | | | | 10-20 people I spend the most time with | | | | City/area I live in | | | | Country | | | | Subscribed (Political) Ideology | | | | Social structures | | | | Media, news, communication technology (filter bubble) | | | | Markets and businesses | | | | Infrastructure (utilities, mobility, delivery) | | | | Taxes/subsidies | | | | Healthcare | | | | Education | | | | Legal/regulatory system | | | | The physical environment | | | | Climate and weather systems | | | | Object manipulation and construction | | |