The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is options.
The completed sentence is: “Gathering information helps someone consider options to solve a problem.”
This statement highlights a core principle of effective problem solving. When faced with a problem, the first step is to understand it fully, and this is achieved by gathering information. The purpose of this information is to broaden one’s perspective and reveal the different paths that can be taken to reach a solution. These different paths or potential courses of action are known as options.
Without adequate information, a person’s view of the problem is limited, and they may only see one or two obvious, but not necessarily best, ways to proceed. For example, if a company’s sales are declining, a knee jerk reaction might be to simply lower prices. However, if the company gathers information through market research, customer surveys, and competitor analysis, it might uncover the real issues. This new information could reveal several other options to consider, such as improving product quality, launching a targeted marketing campaign, enhancing customer service, or expanding into a new market.
By gathering information, the problem solver is empowered to generate a diverse set of potential solutions. This process of considering multiple options is crucial because it prevents premature decisions based on incomplete knowledge. It allows for a more strategic approach where each option can be weighed for its potential benefits, costs, and risks. Ultimately, having more information leads to considering a wider array of options, which significantly increases the probability of selecting and implementing the most effective solution to the problem at hand.
