On being a solutionist: an approach to responsible innovation
Solutionism is a term that has been both heavily appreciated and ruthlessly criticised depending upon how it is defined. Some believe it to be the new optimism while others dismiss it as a superficial approach to solving complicated problems. With such vastly different explanations of a seemingly simple word, what actually is solutionism?
Let’s break it down.
What is solutionism?
The term “solutionism” has been around since at least 1957 and refers to the belief that every problem has a solution that lies in technology.
To simplify the definition, solutionism promotes the idea that all problems can be solved with the use of technology. It is essentially a neologism for solution-oriented individuals who insist that a feasible solution exists — for any and all problems — and view technology as a means to an end.
The dangers of technocratic solutionism
On the surface, solutionism seems an ideal approach to innovation. After all, what could possibly be wrong with the concept of all social problems having a technological fix?
Surprisingly, the term solutionism has been met with derision in the past. This is partially due to the fact that it bases solutions in technology even for seemingly unrelated fields (such as values, interests, and emotions) and partly because of how it promises a methodical, digital answer for complex, age-old problems faced by civilizations.
Evgeny Morozov, a Belarusian researcher and writer, through his book in 2013, popularised the term “technocratic solutionism” which is the concept of solving problems via technical means. Morozov, however, adopted a severely critical tone when discussing solutionism. His argument stated that this approach oversimplifies complex social challenges into neatly defined problems whose solutions can be computed systematically with the right methods and algorithms.
In addition to this, his criticism also extended to describe how technical experts — despite the depth and breadth of their technical knowledge — lack the nuanced approach to deal with social, philosophical, and ethical dilemmas. Such issues with human implications, Morozov established, cannot be eliminated by digitally measuring or correcting routine behaviour. Conclusively, technocratic solutionism is dangerous because it is wrong to categorise problems into boxes where they do not properly fit.
Thus, the main point of content regarding solutionism remains its reliance on technology to resolve any and all kinds of complications. Remove this aspect and many people would comfortably welcome the concept of solutionism.
What does it truly mean to be a solutionist?
The idea of solutionism that most solutionists today agree upon, and the concept that is now widely appreciated is perhaps an alternative to or a middle-ground between optimism and pessimism.
While an optimist may be too hopeful about a certain scenario and dismiss potential risks or threats, a pessimist, on the other hand, may be too sceptical of an actual solution. A solutionist, however, heavily underscores the problem and its possibly detrimental consequences while actively seeking a solution to resolve the issue. Therefore, it is fair to label a solutionist more practical than both an optimist and a pessimist in the sense that a solutionist would not try to see a scenario with rose-coloured lenses (as an optimist might) or view it too critically (like a pessimist might). Instead, a solutionist would immediately begin working to find an answer.
How to become a solutionist?
It is undeniable that many humans are born with a highly solution-oriented approach to tackling problems. The tendency to get to the root of a problem in order to find the most viable solution comes naturally to them. However, this does not mean that one cannot learn to become a solutionist over time.
The following practices, if strictly followed, can help you develop a solution-oriented mindset.
Focus on possible outcomes
A solutionist, when faced with any issue, begins thinking about all the possible outcomes. The sooner you concentrate on feasible solutions, the sooner you will come up with the right answer. If you are in a leadership role, particularly, your team will be looking to you for guidance on how to move forward. Therefore, quickly begin brainstorming to find viable remedies to the complication.
Leave no room for excuses
A solutionist rarely ever wastes time with excuses — who is responsible for the problem, who will solve the problem, how could the problem have been avoided altogether, etc. Instead, they immediately get to work because they are aware that dwelling upon such unnecessary questions only exhausts the resources at hand and takes the focus away from problem-solving.
Approach the problem in a collaborative manner
To accelerate the process of finding a practical solution, get the entire team on board and brainstorm together. Most likely, not everyone on your team will be a solutionist. However, that’s beyond the point. The goal here is to get the maximum information about the problem and hear all the available ideas on resolving the issue.
Engage in strategic and critical thinking
Critical thinking is among the most common traits of a solutionist. Deal with the problem in a very strategic manner — bring all your creativity and ace decision-making skills to the table. Engaging in critical thinking entails analysing the problem in a comprehensive manner, breaking it down into manageable and easy to understand chunks, comparing and ranking different possibilities and outcomes, and listing down the necessary steps to follow. To summarise, you need to work in a systematic manner while being immensely creative.
Get to the heart of the problem
Although it has been emphasised not to dwell too much on the occurrence of the problem and rather concentrate on the solution, getting to the root of the problem enables you to find its cause. Only once you know the reason something happened, can you work to eliminate, reverse, or minimise its effect(s). This is why the word “why” is often brought up when discussing solutionists — they question why an incident occurred, why a particular solution would or would not work, and why a certain approach is the right one.
That being said, know that this will not be a swift process. It takes a healthy amount of time to properly develop long-lasting habits. Hence, ensure that you practice the aforementioned strategies as frequently as possible.
