The closed-ended problem solver, or at least one being faced with some immediate problem, will naturally gravitate to the accepted solution. Example:

“I don’t have enough money to make ends meet”. This person sees that “making more money” is the only answer. An open ended person will examine the need for the “ends” they are trying to make meet, and see if some can be eliminated, thus reducing the need for more funds instead of making more funds. This is a simple example, but the principal is clear. If the need for funds can be reduced, the action taken solves the problem, in lieu of crashing forward with more effort, such as a second job, asking for a raise, or other increase of funds.
Any problem can be mind-mapped. Write it on paper, and then read and re-read it as you scribble any and all possible solutions, both good and bad. Do not accept the first thought that comes in your mind. “What else can I do about this?”

I think that figuring out which questions are the most interesting and meaningful and then being able to look for answers in a self-directed way and/or hold discussions on a topic with ones peers is probably one of the best skills anyone could have. . . As a teacher, I used to try to make sure that my students got a taste of that at some point–no matter what subject I happened to be teaching. Part of that process involved teaching the concept of the open-ended and closed-ended question to students.

It’s interesting to note that you actually have to spend some time on this before everyone ‘gets’ the difference.

As for which kind of question is better–I don’t think either is. As long as you know when to use them appropriately.

Thanks so much for the link!

I love when you get the email forwards that have a question, followed by 90% of kindergartners understood this and it’s something obvious. 😉

Free aA Last said,
jacob, could you elaborate on this post? i know that there is some wisdom here related to life, investing, how we all relate to each other, etc., but i have a feeling that i am missing some of the larger ideas.

Nope you didn’t miss it. this is what you call a filler post to bulk up the web site…

@FindependantinIndia – You’re given the illusion of choice by being offered the apparent choice between many different kinds of shampoo. In reality, they’re all practically the same and made by the same few companies. So you think you have freedom of choice, but in reality, you only have the freedom to choose one of the choices that are provided to you in a controlled fashion.

@Chuck Findlay – You can pick any car you want. However, if you want to pick something else, like a street car, a bus, a train, a horse, you’ll find your choices very limited. If you want to pick a world where streets weren’t needed in the first place. That choice is not there at all. This was the open-ended problem.

In other words, your choice has been made for you. It’s a car. You can now choose what form or shape or color it has, as long as it’s a car. This is the close-ended problem.

By only giving consumers close-ended problems to solve it is possible to retain and create their ongoing illusion of freedom while in reality have removed large parts of that freedom because they’re being used as pawns (being largely oblivious) in the open-ended problems.

Yes, I’ve read Browne’s Freedom book.

@Chuck Findlay – Yes, there are lots of choices when it comes to picking a motor vehicles. Pick any vehicle you want but do pick a vehicle because there are few alternatives. In chess, this is called a forcing move. Closed-end problems are forced moves in disguise because they lead to a specific solution that is controlled in advance. The outcome is controlled. Consumers are subject to lots of forced moves because they only see closed problems. They see the trees but they miss the forest (and areas that are not a forest).