Future Problem Solving

Abstract

Nearly 10 years ago I participated in Future Problem Solving (FPS) as part of a Talented and Gifted students program at my high school in Marietta, Ohio. The FPS Program, which teaches a creative and analytical approach to problem solving, and holds annual competitions for teams of students to practice the skills they learned, was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, as an educational tool, FPS probably comes under considerable scrutiny when budgets are tight, possibly because its benefits cannot be measured as easily as traditional teaching methods. Looking back, though, FPS was arguably one of the most applicable educational programs I have experienced to this day.

Now, 10 years later, the feelings of my involvement are still vivid and I'm using the skills more than ever. I've built a career on problem solving, and as I look forward to the 40 years or so I have ahead of me in business, I rather imagine that I'll be positioning myself as someone who can come up with innovative solutions to problems by analyzing them from many different perspectives. That's the unique skill, the competitive advantage that I can bring to any position, now or in the future. However, regardless of what the future has in store for me, I can with certainty recognize Dr. Torrance's Future Problem Solving Program as one of the key experiences that has already contributed to my success.