Problem solving with information systems

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That respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.
One of the first steps in system design is understanding the task at hand. Problem solving tends to be a focal point in the engineering process, as most of your efforts will be centered on eradicating some sort of problem. The initial step is always making an effort to understand the problem.
As a software engineer, what steps do you believe are essential in solving a problem? Give some examples of how one would go about solving a problem with a programmatic solution.