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BREAKING BIG PROBLEMS INTO SMALL PARTS

Breaking a problem into smaller parts is the first step in decomposition. This process
requires careful thinking and planning.
DECOMPOSITION To break a problem effectively, follow the given steps:

3
2 Divide into 4
1 List All Tasks Smaller Arrange the 5
Identify the Parts Steps Execute the
Goal Plan

Breaking Big
Problems into Small
Parts

The description of these steps is as follows:

Step 1 Identify the goal: The first and most important step in decomposition
is to clearly understand the goal. Before starting any task, we must ask
ourselves:

 What is the problem?

 What do I need to do?

 What is the final result?

If the goal is not clear, we may work in the wrong direction.

Step 2 List all tasks: Once the goal is clear, the next step is to think about all the
actions needed to complete the task. This step is called listing tasks. We

should write down everything we need to do, even small actions.

Step 3 Divide into Smaller Parts: After listing all tasks, we break each task into
even smaller and simpler steps. This step makes the work very easy to
understand and perform.

Step 4 Arrange the Steps: After breaking tasks into smaller parts, we must
arrange them in the correct order. This is called sequencing.

Step 5 Execute the Plan: The final step is to carry out the plan. We must follow

each step carefully and complete one step before moving to the next.

Let us understand with the help of example.

Preparing a greeting card may seem like a single task, but it actually involves several
smaller steps. By breaking it into parts, we can complete it easily and neatly.

Decomposition 39