C6: Transference

Part of being technologically adaptable is the ability to transfer ideas from one issue, software, or system to another. At times, you will not find help dealing with the exact issue or problem you are facing, particularly when troubleshooting. One skill that can help with this issue is transference—the ability to take information about another process or version and twist it to fit your needs.

Close, But Not Quite

Sometimes you will find instructions that deal with another version of your product, a similar product, or a procedure close to the one you are working on. Look closely at the instructions. Do they provide ideas of how you might solve your problem? Are there any processes that seem parallel to your issue? Maybe you can use a portion of the procedure. Maybe you can use the procedure in a slightly different way. Maybe it just gives you a new idea of how to approach the issue. Or maybe it gives you an idea of where to look for better help. When you are at this point, you are very much in the trial-and-error phase. You are looking for an idea of where to go, some glimmer of what to do. If you cannot find a direct answer, finding something close may help or inspire you to fix the issue.

Transference works as part of your troubleshooting skills. So, take the same approach as you do when you troubleshoot.