The manufacturer ended up by taking the problem home with him to TAKE TO PIECES and put together again.
He began—fortunately—with the final objective. "What's this new building for?" Obviously, to provide more space for enlarged operations.
"How much space is needed?"
He went over the figures and plans and found the four main floors weren't enough.
"Then why not a fifth floor?"
As long as a bigger building was to be built, why not make it big enough? Why not another full story instead of a basement?
Why not, indeed! Come to find out, no one knew just why a basement had been considered. The old building had one, and apparently that was the only reason for proposing one for the new building. A full story would give all the general storage space of a basement and also give regular working quarters for the department crowded out of the four upper floors.
And when the architect was consulted, it was found that with the extras for excavation, waterproofing and the like, the cost of a basement was considerably more than the cost of another full story.
Yet, but for the manufacturer's analysis of the building problem from the point of final objective, the basement would have gone in—simply because NO ONE HAD STOPPED TO THINK, and think clearly and logically.
Logical thinking is a trait that can be cultivated. Every problem thought through by means of some such simple help as we have suggested, makes the mind more ready to tackle the next problem.