Improve your problem solving capabilities. Use a systematic approach!

Problem solving is a sequence of mental steps – not an intuitive or haphazard behavior.

Research findings indicate that following some type of systematic procedure to solve problems always produces better results than using no procedure at all. Using a process enables you to maximize the return on the time you invest solving problems because it forces you to do a thorough job of investigating and diagnosing the problem. It also encourages you to generate a variety of solutions to consider and to predict as completely as possible all the positive and negative outcomes likely to occur with each option. How effective is your problem solving?

Consider this:

• Think about two problems you or your group has tackled in the last year.
• Quickly write them down. Include a brief description of the “solution” that was implemented or the outcome that was achieved.
• Now think how you went about solving the problem.
• Was a process used?
• How did the process help you to create a good solution (or contribute to making a bad one)?
• Can you think how a better process – using ANY process – might have contributed to a better outcome?