[mellavora]

> I find it infuriating when people calling themselves engineers don't follow any practice like this.

Andy Grove's (the engineering legend) wisdom is summed in one sentence: "Everything is a process, which can be improved."

If you don't have a process for solving a problem (where problem is as implied by the parent), you are not engineering.

[mejutoco]

I agree. Note also that if your process resembles sacrificing a goat you might also not be engineering (a process is necessary but not sufficient).

IMO an alternative way of putting it is you need to apply the scientific method.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

edit: grammar