Solving One Problem Four Ways

Comparing problem-solving approaches means running one problem through algorithm, heuristic, working backwards, and divergent generation, and accounting for the differences.

One problem — a hospital scheduling conflict — solved four ways in full. The algorithm that is correct and too slow. The heuristic that is fast and fails on one case. Working backwards from the fixed constraint. Divergent generation followed by convergent selection. Includes where functional fixedness blocked the third approach, where anchoring shaped the first estimate, and how framing changed which solution the team accepted.