External and Internal Constraints

Constraints are found in every problem. Constraints contain two groups: external and internal constraints. External constraints are the restrictions that affect the decision-making process. On the other hand, internal constraints are apart of the reason why the problem was initiated in the first place.

In most situations, external constraints are easier to deal with when effective problem solving skills are used. External constraints consist of factors such as, “money, energy, knowledge base, or other resources that the group needs for the decision-making process” (146). An example for an external constraint would be the amounts of time professors give us to finish an assignment. In this case, as a problem solver, you would need to determine the amount of time it will take you to complete the given task before the due date. For external constraints, with good time management, the task can be accomplished before it is due.

On the contrary, internal constraints are the factors concerning the start of the problem. An example of internal constraint would be a technical difficulty because if the technical difficult did not occur, there would not be a problem to solve. I work for a computer-based employer; therefore, when we process transactions it must go through the computer. One day, all our computers systems shut off. Our management team was in charge of finding a solution. After countless phone calls to corporate and endless minutes, the general manager decided we hand write each transaction. Although the problem was solved, we were required to hand write each transaction and wait on corporate to solve the technical problem.