An autonomic computational processor can be provided with both at least one substantially closed loop problem solving mechanism (such as, but not necessarily limited to, an abductive algorithm-based problem solving mechanism (101)) and at least one substantially open loop problem solving mechanism (such as, but not necessarily limited to, a machine learning algorithm-based problem solving mechanism (102)). Upon receiving (103) information regarding a problem as relates to a given corresponding process, then, these teachings can provide for automatically determining (104) which of the closed loop and open loop problem solving mechanisms to use to attempt to resolve the problem.