Want a better solution? Redefine the problem.

Last week Governor  Cuomo announced a new solution had been found to address the problems of the L train that would allow it to remain open part time over the next two years, rather than shutting down entirely.  People were shocked. The closure had been a hot topic of discussion for three long years.  And no one ever mentioned an alternative solution. (Fitzsimmons, 2019)

But the turnabout was a perfect example of what happens when you reframe a problem.  Let me explain.  The first step in problem-solving is to define the problem.  As I often tell participants in the workshops I facilitate, this step is critical because if you misdefine the problem you will head down the wrong path.  Our decisions are shaped by experience, which is a good thing.  But sometimes we take shortcuts and simply repeat actions that have worked in the past without exploring alternative solutions. That's what happened here.

In the case of the L train this meant defining the problem as "How do we fix the L train cables that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy?"  Brainstorming then focused on the ways in which this task could be accomplished; with agreement eventually being reached that the best thing to do was to close down the line for two years so the walls could be ripped open and the work completed.

But, Gov. Cuomo decided to enlist some of our local talent and consulted with professors at Columbia and Cornell about options.  They started by redefining the problem, because it had not been properly defined in the first place.  It really was: "How do we get a properly working cable system for the L train?"  The key of course was not repairing the damaged cables, but bypassing them altogether and putting in a new system.  Given the age of the New York Subway system this makes complete sense and while the system may be new to NYC, it is currently being used in London, HK, and Riyadh.  So it's been well vetted.

And the best part is instead of closing down entirely for 15 months, the L train will be open during the week, and will have limited availability on the weekends, with work ending in 20 months.  Nice.  It may even cost less.  Think about that the next time you define a problem.

Fitzsimmons, E. (2019, January 4)  The L Train Shutdown Plan Was 3 Years in the Making.  It Unraveled in 3 Weeks.  nytimes.com.  Retrieved January 5, 2019, from

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/nyregion/l-train-shutdown.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage