science

Problem-Solving Group

Problem-Solving Group is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Problem-Solving Group rather than just read about it. In short: Problem-Solving Group (PSG) is a team of problem management and technical support staff that is formed to investigate and diagnose a recurring IT problem. Background The concept of the Problem-Solving Group was introduced in ITIL Service Operation 2007 but was removed from ITIL Service Operation 2011.

Key takeaways

Problem-Solving Group belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Problem-Solving Group to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Problem-Solving Group from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Problem-Solving Group (PSG) is a team of problem management and technical support staff that is formed to investigate and diagnose a recurring IT problem.

Background The concept of the Problem-Solving Group was introduced in ITIL Service Operation 2007 but was removed from ITIL Service Operation 2011.

Definition The ITIL Service Operation manual describes the purpose of a Problem-Solving Group as follows:

The actual solving of problems is likely to be undertaken by one or more technical support groups and/or suppliers or support contractors – under the coordination of the Problem Manager. Where an individual problem is serious enough to warrant it, a dedicated problem management team should be formulated to work together in overcoming that particular problem. The Problem Manager has a role to play in making sure that the correct number and level of resources is available in the team and for escalation and communication up the management chain of all organizations concerned.

A paper with a more detailed description of a PSG was presented at a meeting of the British Computer Society at the University of Northampton.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Problem-Solving Group

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Problem-Solving Group claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Problem-Solving Group before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Problem-Solving Group ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Problem-Solving Group

In research: Problem-Solving Group appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Problem-Solving Group in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Problem-Solving Group is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Information technology management, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Problem-Solving Group outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Problem-Solving Group in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Problem-Solving Group means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Problem-Solving Group out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Problem-Solving Group in simple terms?

Problem-Solving Group (PSG) is a team of problem management and technical support staff that is formed to investigate and diagnose a recurring IT problem. Background The concept of the Problem-Solving Group was introduced in ITIL Service Operation 2007 but was removed from ITIL Service Operation 20…

Why does Problem-Solving Group matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Problem-Solving Group?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Problem-Solving Group.