Problem Type	Logical Problem	Algorithm	Story Problem	Rule-Using Problem	Decision making	Trouble-shooting	Diagnosis-Solution	Tactical-Strategic Perfomrance	Situated Case	Designs	Dilemmas
Outcome	efficient solution	correct solution	correct solution	information	Decision about alternatives	fault isolation	fault identification and treatment	Mission performance with situated awareness	problem representation, policy determination, implications, and argumentation	problem articulation, options, design, argumentation	Complex, non-predictive
Problem	logical manipulation	procedural, algorithmic	identify variables, insert & solve, practice	procedural	Advantages, disadvantages & weighting of options	search & replace, serial elimination, space splitting	serial elimination, problem schemas, management	Strategic and procedural knowledge; psychomotor performance	Represent problem, alternative actions, reconcile with system, argumentation	original, principle-based	vexing decision, no solution; perspective irreconcilable
Solution	single, clear criteria	single, clear criteria	single, clear criteria	productivity, relevance, correctness	Selection of alternative	correct fault, efficiency	optional, must be defended	Successful mission; accommodating unpredictable events	Multiple options, unclear, on multiple levels	multiple, undefined criteria	articulated preference, preferred decision
Context	abstract task	abstract, formulaic	constrained to pre-defined elements, shallow context	purposeful academic, real world, constrained	Life decisions	closed system real world	real world, technical, mostly closed system	real time; technical; stress loaded	Real world, constrained or open	complex, real world	topical, complex, inter-disciplinary
Example	Tower of Hanoi, Cannabals & Missionaries Rubics Cube; geometry proofs	conversions, algebra problems	textbook problems, homework	online searching, calculating materials, expanding recipes	Should I move/ take another job; which school should my daughter attend; deciding on benefits package	troubleshoot mechanical systems	Auto mechanics, medical	Flying a jet fighter; performing surgury; day trading	Business cases; policy issues; litigation	architecture, engineering, instructional design; developing curriculum; managing portfolio	Should abortions be banned?; Kosovo;
Stucturedness	discovered	procedural predictable	procedural predictable	unpredicted outcome	finite outcomes	finite faults & outcomes	finite faults & outcomes	Well-structured task; unpredictable intrusions and outcomes	Ill-structured	ill-structured	finite outcomes, multiple reasoning
Abstractness	abstract, discovery	abstract, procedural	limited simulation	need-based	personally situated	problem situated	problem situated	Performance with situated awareness	Multiple situated, different needs	problem situated	issue situated
Complexity	limited but unknown	limited	two stage	multiple rules	user-defined rules	depends on factors	multiple factors on 2 stages	Complex, time constrained	very complex	very complex	unknown & unpredictable