8 Steps

1. Gather data
2. Diagnose data
3. Select and prioritize your objectives
4. Create and analyze alternatives
5. Select one of them (make a decision)
6. Plan the action steps to carry out that decision
7. Implement the plan
8. Study the results against the objectives

Professor Polya many years ago proposed:

First principle: Understand the problem

Second principle: Devise a plan

Third principle: Carry out the plan

Fourth principle: Review/extend

Now James Rick, as you can read in the note below proposes the 8 steps I wrote here.

Method, can solve some problems.