Learning content

What exactly is the process for solving problems?

Solving difficulties is like creating a cake. You can try your best in the kitchen even if you don’t have a recipe or the proper ingredients, but the ultimate result is not going to be very appetizing! When baking a cake, following a procedure helps you to utilize the best ingredients without wasting any, gather the appropriate tools, consider any food allergies, choose if the cake is for a birthday or a wedding, and then bake it in a way that is both efficient and on time.

The result is a superior cake that fulfills its intended goal, improves in flavor, and leaves the kitchen in a cleaner state than before. In addition to that, it ought to contain chocolate sprinkles. If you have a step-by-step process to follow to solve organizational problems, you will be able to go through each stage in a methodical manner, which will allow you to verify that you are working to solve the appropriate problems and choose the solutions that will be the most appropriate and effective.

How do I go about solving this problem?

Methods of Fixing Problems

Approaches to, and ways for facilitating, the process of problem-solving can be categorized as problem-solving strategies. If you're seeking to solve a broad problem, like how to increase growth, you'll need a different approach than if you're trying to solve a narrow problem, like how to enhance the onboarding process for new customers.

Generally speaking, all problem-solving strategies should incorporate the aforementioned processes, albeit the specifics of where to put your attention and what methods to use will vary. Some methods may require that you identify the issue ahead of time, while others may compress the entire process into a single-day workshop. Each effective method for resolving issues shares a commonality in the way it is planned and organized.

An intensive workshop designed to guide you and/or a group through the problem-solving process will always yield better results than four hours of unstructured debate. A good issue-solving strategy considers the team's or organization's structure and the specific nature of the problem at hand. Here are some problem-solving techniques as models for your own exploration and experimentation.

Workshops are a great way to guide you/your group through problem-solving exercises.

Successfully assembling you or a group is often the first step in addressing difficulties or organizational challenges. Most persons already possess the resources and talent required to overcome their issues; what they lack is the direction in applying those assets and a methodical framework within which to channel their efforts. Workshops, when expertly led, are one of the best methods for finding solutions to issues of any size. Your workshop's approach and scope can be optimized for you, your group or your company if you take the time to develop and prepare it well.

Workshop on problem-solving

Useful for designing and implementing a one-of-a-kind procedure, addressing issues of any scale, and fostering the growth of in-house workshop expertise and attendance.

Problem-solving workshops are a powerful tool. Facilitation techniques and methods have stood the test of time, allowing you to create and lead a workshop that is tailor-made for your specific need.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to foster originality in your or your team's problem-solving efforts. Having a workshop that is well-designed for its intended use can greatly improve the likelihood of successful outcomes. Workshops are useful because they provide a framework for tackling problems. This means that the workshop will go well and that you/your team will be able to put many of the learned tools and techniques to use immediately. We think workshops are a great way to boost communication and productivity. Check out the benefits of team building, culture, and design workshops after you've tried your hand at problem-solving

Implement a design sprint

The ability to quickly design and test solutions, as well as tackle and break down large, complex organizational challenges, is a great benefit of this method.

Design thinking is a methodology that offers a solution-oriented approach to problem-solving. Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process with anywhere from three to seven phases. The five-stage design thinking model proposed by the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford is:

Empathize: Think like your users and find out what they want.

Define: Specify the issues and requirements of your target audience.

Ideate: It's time to get your creative juices flowing and challenge preconceived notions.

Prototype: The prototype stage entails the initial steps in the process of developing solutions.

Test: Put your ideas to the test.

With the help of design thinking principles and methods, a design sprint is an effective tool for identifying, prioritizing, and prototyping solutions to long-term challenges, which can lead to rapid action and measurable results in the resolution of significant organizational problems. Familiarity with design thinking is helpful but not required, and this approach can greatly aid team alignment if there is debate over which problems should be tackled initially. You or teams that are new to design thinking will also benefit greatly from the design sprint's stage-based structure.

Rapid prototyping and testing, as well as the inspiration phase in which you look to competitors who have solved your problem, are great for introducing new concepts that will benefit a team in all of their future work. Looking to the market for solutions that you can iterate on can be very productive, as it is common for teams to look inward for solutions. As a team moves forward, it can be helpful to instill a mindset of rapid solution generation and testing (also known as "agile prototyping and testing").

Make the workshop a success

Some problems are best solved by taking a big step back and looking at them from a different angle or by giving your team new tools that make them want to make different decisions.

Distill complex problems into manageable chunks

Most issues and difficulties encountered by an organization are intricate and extensive. Trying to fix everything at once can be too much to handle in certain situations. Consider resolving the problem by dividing it into manageable sub-problems.

There may not be an immediate solution to customer churn, but you or/and your team can focus on the easiest wins with the biggest impact. This approach to problem-solving can give a boost, allow you to set priorities, and score some quick wins.

This tactic works particularly well with teams that are just starting to learn how to solve problems.

Make use of existing templates or experiment with alternative methods

If you/your team is having trouble solving a certain type of problem, you may need to introduce a radical new way of looking at things or try a brand-new approach.

Both Lego Serious Play ( https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/serious-play) and Props and Tools (https://methodkit.com/), which employs a card-based toolkit for facilitation, can be effective in getting everyone on the team involved and working together to find a solution to the problem.

Keep in mind that despite the difficulty, participant engagement can be very effective through the use of play and creativity, two great tools for bringing about change.

Seek Assistance from Outside Parties

One effective strategy for tackling difficult problems is to enlist the help of one's peers, subject-matter experts, and outside facilitators. You could use some outside help because you/your team lacks the knowledge, wisdom, or experience to solve a particular problem, or maybe you could just use a new perspective.

There are times when it takes a group effort to solve a problem, and one solution could be to provide individual coaching to team leaders or members. Try to keep in mind that there isn't a single "right" way to solve any issue.

In addition to helping, you find solutions to immediate issues, peer groups, coaches, and mentors can be a great resource for the future success of a sole proprietor. One effective strategy is to join a Mastermind Group (https://www.mindtools.com/axcyx3k/mastermind-groups) where you can network with other successful people and learn from each other's experiences. It's important to remember to be thoughtful, respectful, and honest when seeking outside advice. Give back to the community when you can, and you might be pleasantly surprised by the generosity of your peers.

Mentoring and coaching

Useful for Targeted education and growth, closing knowledge gaps and Engaging in a wide variety of struggles over time.

Challenges can be overcome by seeking the counsel of a business coach or establishing a mentor/mentee relationship. Most coaching and mentoring relationships are one-on-one, which can be extremely beneficial to the individuals involved and their organizations. There are many ways in which a good mentor can help a business succeed. One of the most important is the mentor's ability to help a mentee avoid problems before they even occur.

An internal mentoring program’ could be implemented as part of a larger learning and development initiative or to specifically aid in the growth of the team’s problem-solving abilities. If your management team is lacking in certain areas or you’re having trouble with a specific business issue, bringing in an outside coach can be a useful addition to your problem-solving strategy.

Let's take a look at the problem-solving abilities you and your team need now that we've covered the process and the steps, you'll want to take to have an effective session.

What abilities do I need to be a good problem solver?

Skills in problem-solving are in demand across all fields and on all teams. Employers are on the lookout for people who can analyze a situation thoroughly and come up with workable, practical solutions. Whether your job title is facilitator, team leader, or developer, the ability to effectively solve problems is a skill you'll want to hone. One's problem-solving abilities encompass a wide range of strategies and methods that enable them to not only recognize issues but also have fruitful conversations about them and arrive at workable solutions. Everyone from upper-level managers to entry-level employees can benefit from learning the following problem-solving techniques. Using these techniques, you can turbocharge any workshop or training session aimed at enhancing problem-solving abilities.

Active listening

The ability to listen attentively is crucial for any job involving interaction with other people. In a nutshell, active listening is a method used to not only comprehend the words being spoken but also to pick up on the speaker's intended meaning. When trying to find a solution to a problem, it's crucial to listen attentively so that you can fully comprehend each person's perspective and articulate their specific difficulties and proposed approaches. Methods that involve active listening include:

1. Having one's undivided attention on the person speaking.
2. Ignoring irrelevant factors.
3. Try not to be interrupted.
4. Investing in learning the nuances of an argument before launching a counterattack.
5. Having a respectful and fitting response.
6. Take a relaxed stance, maintain direct eye contact with the speaker, smile and nod as appropriate, and you'll send positive body language signals. Prove that you're paying attention and give them the confidence to carry on.
7. Consider and value the emotions of others. Determine the best course of action. Disagreement need not entail hostility.
8. Look at how they're carrying themselves.
9. Restate the information in your own words, either in your head or out loud.
10. Do not take a side.
11. You should pause for thought before you answer.
12. Inquire further into the subject matter by asking clarifying questions.

Analytical skills

Analytical rigor is essential in all problem-solving models, but it is especially important at the outset and when evaluating the efficacy of previous approaches. To effectively analyze a problem or opportunity, one must be able to gather relevant data, examine it, and make sense of it. The ability to recognise patterns, shift one's perspective, and draw conclusions from observable data and facts is crucial. Having the ability to step back and analyze a problem and its components is crucial at any stage of the problem-solving process. In this way, you can be confident that any solutions you come up with are sound and well-considered.

Critical thinking

One of the most important skills in problem-solving is the ability to think critically about the issue at hand and come up with creative solutions. Analysing, reasoning, and evaluating without favoritism or preconceptions is the hallmark of a critical thinker. Without using critical thinking skills, you or/and your team may pursue the wrong solution when attempting to define and analyse a problem. For difficult problems, creative problem-solving also necessitates the application of critical thinking skills.

Analysing the Data

Data analysis is a subset of general analytical skills, but it's still important to develop if you want to be an effective problem solver. Finding insights from data is only part of being a skilled data analyst; one must also be able to select the right data for a given problem, interpret it correctly, model it, and present it. Knowing how to use particular data analysis tools and procedures could also be necessary, depending on the nature of the problem at hand. If you're in charge of running a problem-solving workshop, it helps to be familiar with data analysis methods, but you shouldn't feel pressured to become an expert. To improve your performance, hire or seek advice from someone who possesses this expertise.

Decision making

There is always a way to fix a problem, but first, someone has to decide to do so. Teams that lack the ability to make quick decisions risk becoming bogged down in debate and, ultimately, ineffective. The ability to make choices is essential for solving problems. We must always keep in mind that the power to make decisions does not lie solely with the executive staff. Staff members make decisions on a daily basis, so equipping them with these abilities will help them deal with issues of any magnitude. Keep in mind that making decisions does not entail picking the first answer to a problem but rather considering all of the possibilities and settling on a choice that benefits you or the group.

Dependability

In order to solve even the most basic of complex organizational problems, an effort is usually required. The key to effectively solving problems is making sure you /your team can count on you to take the necessary actions and communicate where necessary. Part of being dependable is meeting your deadlines and staying on task. In order for a team to succeed, its members must learn to rely on one another to carry out their responsibilities within the specified time frame. Always keep in mind that unreliability can lead to friction and reduce the effectiveness of your efforts.

Planning

It is much easier to find solutions to issues if you use a tried-and-true process or problem-solving model. The ability to plan ahead is essential for the successful organization, delivery, and implementation of a workshop designed to solve a specific problem. Competence in planning encompasses the aptitudes of task and management, process planning and design, and the ability to anticipate and adapt to obstacles. Planning ahead is important for setting up success as it can help avoid wasting time and energy later.

Prioritization

Organizational development is accompanied by an increase in the complexity and breadth of the issues it must address. Since you and your team will likely be confronted with a wide variety of challenges, the ability to analyze and prioritize your options is crucial, especially for those in positions of authority. Multiple solutions may emerge from a comprehensive problem-solving procedure, and you may have multiple issues that need addressing simultaneously. To prioritize, one must evaluate each potential solution and decide which ones are the most important, valuable, and effective before deciding in what order to implement them. Prioritization is crucial for ensuring the most pressing issues get the attention they deserve, and the most effective answers are found.

Case study

The school is trying to raise money for a charitable organization, and in order to do so, they have decided to hold a raffle to collect donations. The problem that arises is that there are not very many people who buy tickets.

What exactly is the issue?

– The problem is that people complain that the tickets are too expensive, even though they are not particularly interested in the prizes, which are merely a token of appreciation for the individual who purchased the ticket.

What are some steps that could be taken to improve the situation?

– Here's a hint:

Would it be possible to publicize the event and provide additional information about the cause by putting up posters outside the school?

Would it be possible to sell tickets as part of a package, perhaps at a reduced rate for groups of five?

Would it be possible to find more prizes or better prizes by asking local businesses to donate in order to increase the number of people who attend the event?

Increasing the number of people who attend the event is one way to increase its overall success.

Questions to assist in the development of the topic and the resolution of the issue

• While reviewing and analyzing these potential solutions, you should first think about which of the many different options would actually work in the real world. In what way would they check the accuracy of this information?

• To what extent did they succeed in identifying the factors that contributed to the problem? Is it possible that they could gain additional benefits from participating in other activities, such as carrying out research?

• If they had to perform the task once more, are there any aspects of it that they would perform differently?

The responses are dependent on the individual, and through the interaction of the responses that are received, the individual will develop their capacity for critical thinking and observation.

Learning outcomes

Intellectual skills: The learner will comprehend ideas, guidelines, or procedures.

In simple words, this is knowing the correct way to perform a task.

Cognitive strategy: Each learner develops their own unique set of mental, organizational, scholastic, and behavioral strategies.

Attitude: This is the learner's inner state, and it manifests itself in their actions.

Questions and answers

Question 1

What exactly does it mean to solve problems strategically?

Answer 1

Approaches to problems, also known as problem-solving strategies, are methods that can assist you in looking beyond the obvious answers to a problem in order to locate the most effective solution to that problem.

Question 2

What are the most effective problem-solving techniques?

Answer 2

The following are some of the most common components of successful approaches to solving problems:

• Clarify what the issue is.
• Find creative replacement answers.
• Take a stand and choose an approach.
• Do something about it.

Question 3

How do I develop the skills necessary to become an expert problem solver (4-5 skills)?

Answer 3

• Active listening
• Analytical skills
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Analyzing the Data
• Decision making
• Dependability
• Emotional intelligence
• Facilitation
• Flexibility
• Honesty
• Initiative
• Impartiality
• Leadership
• Mediation
• Planning
• Prioritization
• Organizational framework for managing projects
• Accounting for events
• Abilities in Research
• Risk management
• Team building
• Time Management

References

Popper, KR (2001). All life is a problem to be solved. Milan: Bompiani.

Nardone, G. & Milanese, R. (2018). Strategic change: how to make people change their feelings and actions. Milan: Ponte alle Grazie.

Additional resources

• Case Studies about problem solving and observation skills:

https://casestudies.mit.edu/problem-solving/#gf_8

• Article about Problem-Solving Strategies

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00461520.1986.9653026

• Article about problem solving perspective: A strategic approach to understanding environment and organization

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0742-3322(2009)0000026006/full/html

• Introduction to problem solving skills:

https://userpilot.com/blog/problem-solving-framework/