Logical Thinking Process in Software Engineering

Software engineering is an increasingly complex discipline, driven by technological advancements, evolving user demands, and the need for seamless system integration. Managing this complexity requires structured problem-solving methodologies that go beyond traditional approaches. This paper explores the application of Dettmer's Logical Thinking Process (LTP) as a systematic framework for diagnosing and addressing software engineering challenges. LTP enables teams to identify undesirable effects (UDEs), resolve conflicts, and implement targeted interventions through a structured, logical progression. We illustrate its application through three real-world industry projects, demonstrating how key LTP tools-such as the Goal Tree (GT), Current Reality Tree (CRT), and Evaporating Cloud (EC)facilitate decision-making, support stake-holder communication, improve software architecture, and enhance system efficiency. The findings from applying this approach in software projects suggest that integrating logical reasoning methodologies into software engineering can significantly improve problem resolution, scalability, and long-term system sustainability.