Final answer:
The best approach to solving a problem without all necessary information is to gather relevant information, analyze the situation, and make an informed decision, following the steps for problem solving. This often involves narrowing or expanding the problem and consulting external sources. The correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
When faced with a problem for which essential information is missing, the preferred approach is C) Gathered relevant information, analyzed the situation, and made an informed decision. This method is part of the steps for problem solving, which involves identifying given information and determining what the problem is asking to find.
Methods used to gather ideas about the problem and potential solutions can include brainstorming, research, and consulting outside sources for more information. For example, a business might encounter a situation where sales are dropping but is unsure why.
The given information would be the sales figures, and the problem to find would be the cause of the decline. The business would need to conduct market research, analyze competitor strategies, and get customer feedback to inform their decision-making process.
A real-life example of a predicament that can't be directly solved is dealing with a permanent geographical obstacle. In such cases, the solution might involve building infrastructure that bypasses the obstacle, such as a bridge over a river, instead of altering the river course itself.
This demonstrates that sometimes the problem-solving process involves working around an issue rather than directly tackling the source of the problem. The correct option is C.