I think you've got a good approach, and realistically collaboration can be accomplished after you reach a stopping point, with other individuals having their own diverse approaches too.
There's something to be said about mindless increases in observation and familiarity even when focused mindful action is fairly urgent.
Either way you will often come to the same conclusions but if not, the relatively mindless session will sometimes yield ideas that you could not come up with any other way.
>How do you solve big, complex problems?
The most direct thing I try to do is have straightforward simplifying solutions that are no more complex than necessary. And that will lead to further simplification if possible.
Looking at all the variables at once may make things seem unsurmountable, but there is no other way to get the big picture even when nobody will ever fully understand it at first glance.
Edit: this is basically what AI is supposed to do, come up with worthwhile conclusions by just staring at the data. If you're also a living breathing subject matter expert and you do this in parallel that should be even better.