Problem Solving

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Problems as Opportunities

• Problems can be seen as opportunities.
• Problems are not barriers to success.
• As you solve the problems, you see the solutions for implementation.
• Implementation of the solutions brings results and success.

Process of Problem Solving

Also refer: http://triz-problem-solving.blogspot.com/ (TRIZ- Inventive Problem Solving) and http://critical-thinking-skills.blogspot.com/ (Critical Thinking skills)

1. Recognize the problem.
2. Take ownership of the problem.
3. Analyze the problem.

• State the problem or define the problem.
• Set the goal.

4. Conceptualize the situation.

• Identify causes.
• Prioritize causes.
• Generate solutions.

5. Evaluate and implement.

• Evaluate solutions.
• Make a decision.
• Create, implement and monitor the plan.

6. Review the outcome.

Tools and Techniques Used in Problem Solving

• Observations and data collection.
• Cause and effect analysis.
• ABC analysis.
• Histogram.
• Why why or 5 why analysis to reach to the root cause of problem.
• Nominal group technique.
• Option plan.
• Trade off analysis.

Guides and Tips on Each Stage of Creative Problem Solving

1. Curious observation: Be alert- what is required? Be skeptical- so as to prevent trouble. Discover problems- ask why?
2. Is there really a problem?: Analyze problem carefully and define it properly.
3. Goal setting and planning: Break problem down into sub goal or sub problems.
4. Search, explore and collect evidence: Search Internet, books and other sources. Follow leads. Explore all the angles.
5. Generate creative and logical alternative solutions: Search for ideas, refer related sources and publications to imagine and to think.
6. Evaluate the evidence: Wherever possible, chart evaluations of your tentative solutions or theories. Compare and test.
7. Make the hypothesis (Educated Guess): State your hypothesis clearly. Make predictions for testing.
8. Challenge the hypothesis: Test. Experiment. Control variables.
9. Reach a conclusion: Can others test and confirm your conclusions?
10. Suspend judgment: Keep an open mind. Be ready to accept new evidence. Knowledge is forever changing.
11. Take action: Without timely implementation, problem solving is never complete.

Below are the supporting stages and tips used at all the preceding stages:

1. Creative, non-logical, logical and technical methods: Use all types of methods at all the stages to accomplish results.
2. Procedural principles and theories: Follow those used by researchers everywhere but anything goes (if ethical).
3. Attributes and thinking skills: Be team worker, communicator etc. Use creativity. Reason logically.

Benefits from Problem Solving and It's Process

• Hidden information and new issues are revealed.
• Systematic means/process for dealing with problems.
• An attitude change from problem focus to opportunity focus.
• Recognition of other positive outcomes beyond the problem being solved.
• Reduction in time wasted.
• Highly skilled employees.

Pitfalls

• Defining the problem incorrectly.
• If the steps in the problem solving are missed or wrongly tackled or wrongly sequenced, problem solving process is disrupted and good solutions may not emerge.
• Absence of targets of time line, costs, quality etc.
• Trying to solve the problems beyond one's ability.
• Involving wrong people in problem solving process.
• Insufficient monitoring.
• Trying to see or imagine a problem when none exists. Just because you have a hammer, don't fix the nail.

For More Guidance, Assistance, Training and Consultation

Contact: prodcons@prodcons.com

Also refer: http://prodcons-group.blogspot.com/, http://training-development-function.blogspot.com/ and http://productivity-consultants.blogspot.com/

Other Topics of Interest

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(Counseling at Workplace) http://counseling-skill.blogspot.com/
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(Discipline at Work) http://discipline-at-work.blogspot.com/
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(Dream Exotic) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/my-exotic-dream/6txz9nck6g3/8#
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(Efficiency Techniques: Work study: Motion and Time Study) http://work-study-measurement.blogspot.com/
(Efficient Work Methods or Practices) http://efficient-work-methods.blogspot.com/
(Email Etiquette) http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/
(Emotional Intelligence) http://emotional-quotient-intelligence.blogspot.com/
(Empowerment) http://employee-empowerment.blogspot.com/
(Enterprise Resource Planning- ERP) http://erp-management.blogspot.com/
(Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur) http://entrepreneurship-entrepreneur.blogspot.com/
(Executive Etiquette and Manners) http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/
(Exit Interview) http://exit-interview.blogspot.com/
(Financial Ratios and Financial Ratio Analysis) http://financial-ratios.blogspot.com/
(Financial Services) http://finance-related-services.blogspot.com/
(Functions of Management) http://functions-of-management.blogspot.com/
(Gemba Kaizen) http://gemba-kaizen-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Genuine Professional) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/the-genuine-professional/6txz9nck6g3/10#
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(Goal/Target Setting) http://goal-target-setting.blogspot.com/
(Group Discussion) http://group-discussion-gd.blogspot.com/
(Group Dynamics) http://group-dynamics-process.blogspot.com/
(How to Be a Good Boss) http://good-boss.blogspot.com/
(How to Get Promoted) http://get-promoted.blogspot.com/
(How to save Money) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/how-to-save-money/6txz9nck6g3/11#
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(Life Management: Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/management-in-life-profession-family/6txz9nck6g3/3#
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(Personality) http://human-personality.blogspot.com/
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(Problem Solving) http://problem-solving-skill.blogspot.com/
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(Project Management) http://management-of-project.blogspot.com/
(Public Speaking) http://public-speak-skill.blogspot.com/
(Quality Circles History) http://quality-circles-history.blogspot.com/
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(Quality Gurus) http://quality-gurus.blogspot.com/
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(Self Motivation or Internal Motivation) http://internal-motivation.blogspot.com/
(Self-confidence) http://self-confidence-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Self Development) http://managing-self.blogspot.com/
(Shyam Bhatawdekar’s Articles on Management) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
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(Soft Skills) http://soft-skills-competencies.blogspot.com/
(Spiritual Quotient/Intelligence) http://spiritual-quotient.blogspot.com/
(Statistics- Basic) http://statistics-basic.blogspot.com/
(Strategic Management) http://strategic-managing.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management) http://management-of-stress.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management) http://managing-stress-strain.blogspot.com/
(Success in Life or Success) http://success-achievement.blogspot.com/
(Success in Life or Success) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/success-in-life/6txz9nck6g3/14#view
(Supply Chain Management) http://manage-supply-chain.blogspot.com/
(Supply and Demand) http://supply-demand-laws.blogspot.com/
(Talent Management) http://managing-talent.blogspot.com/
(Team Building) http://team-building-working.blogspot.com/
(Telephone Etiquette) http://telephone-etiquette.blogspot.com/
(Three Sixty Degrees Appraisal System) http://three-sixty-degrees-feedback.blogspot.com/
(Time Management) http://time-life-management.blogspot.com/
(Total Productive Maintenance- TPM) http://total-productive-maintenance.blogspot.com/
(Total Quality Management- TQM) http://total-quality-concept.blogspot.com/
(Training and Development) http://training-function.blogspot.com/
(Trainers’ Qualities) http://trainers-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Transaction Analysis- TA) http://transaction-analysis.blogspot.com/
(TRIZ- Inventive Problem Solving) http://triz-problem-solving.blogspot.com/
(Value Engineering/Analysis) http://value-engineering-analysis.blogspot.com/
(Winners and Losers) http://winners-losers.blogspot.com/
(Work Study: Method Study and Work Measurement) http://work-study-measurement.blogspot.com/
(Work Methods or Practices: Efficient) http://efficient-work-methods.blogspot.com/
(World Class Manufacturing) http://world-class-manufacturing.blogspot.com/
(Writings of Shyam Bhatawdekar on Management) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
(Written Communication) http://written-communication.blogspot.com/
(Zero Based Budgeting) http://zero-based-budgeting.blogspot.com/

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(Children’s Behavior Problems) http://child-behavior-problems.blogspot.com/
(Cholesterol Control) http://controlling-cholesterol.blogspot.com/
(Counseling: Psychological) http://counselingfamily.blogspot.com/
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(Cross Cultural Etiquette) http://cross-cultural-etiquette.blogspot.com/
(Do This Today) http://do-this-today.blogspot.com/
(Emotions) http://emotion-feeling.blogspot.com/
(Executive Etiquette and Manners) http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/
(Exercises) http://exercises-plan.blogspot.com/
(Family Counseling) http://family-harmony.blogspot.com/
(Health: Homeopathy) http://homeopathy-medicines.blogspot.com/
(LifeManagement: Competencies) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/competency-matrix/6txz9nck6g3/4#
(Life Management: Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/management-in-life-profession-family/6txz9nck6g3/3#
(Life management: I Am Liberated) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/i-am-liberated/6txz9nck6g3/6#view
(Marriage Counseling) http://marriage-counsel.blogspot.com/
(Ownership on Job) http://job-ownership.blogspot.com/
(Parental Responsibilities) http://parental-responsibilities.blogspot.com/
(Personality) http://human-personality.blogspot.com/
(Qualities of Spouse) http://spouse-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Quit Smoking) http://quit-smoking-plan.blogspot.com/
(Self Development) http://managing-self.blogspot.com/
(Self-confidence) http://self-confidence-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Spiritual Quotient/Intelligence) http://spiritual-quotient.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management) http://managing-stress-strain.blogspot.com/
(Stress Management) http://management-of-stress.blogspot.com/
(Success in Life or Success) http://success-achievement.blogspot.com/
(Success in Life or Success) http://knol.google.com/k/shyam-bhatawdekar/success-in-life/6txz9nck6g3/14#view
(Swine Flu and Its Prevention) http://swine-flu-precaution.blogspot.com/
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