Define Problem
Albert Einstein once said, “If I were given one hour to save the planet, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute resolving it.” While that may sound extreme, it does highlight the importance of defining problems. It also hints at some interesting facts: A well-defined problem often contains its own solution within it, and that solution is usually quite obvious and straightforward. By defining problems properly, you make them easier to solve, which means saving time, money and resources.
Every business person needs to master the ability to define problems or challenges. We’ve learned this critical technique to define problems properly.
Analyze Problem
Analysis is a practicle process for understanding and solving a problem. Figure out what negative events are occurring, look at the complex systems around those problems and identify key points of failure.
We follow Five Easy Steps to Analyze Any Problem.
- 1. Problem: Is there a deviation from expectation?
- 2. Evidence: What’s the proof that the problem is real?
- 3. Impact: Notice effects of problem on a project, business or department.
- 4. Causes: Finding the driving force behind the problem?
- 5. Recommendations: Simple; just reverse the causes!
Identify Solution
When you have identified the problem and understood its root causes. Congratulations! you are one step closer towards its logical end.
Identifying solutions is a Two-step process that includes
Generating solutions As in framing the problem and diagnosing it, identifying solutions requires you to combine creative and critical thinking, using inductive, deductive, and abductive logic and keeping all relevant information accessible.
Evaluating solutions properly can be harder than it looks. You’ll need to check your assumptions and manage various biases, such as confirmation bias—the tendency to search for and favor evidence that support our prior beliefs. You’ll also need to question your intuition and remember your limitations.
Choose Solution
At this point, we decide the best solution by eliminating those that do not meet your criteria. Of course most problems are not this simple. We frequently find two or more alternatives that fullfil our criteria and choose the best from it.
This well be the hardest part of decision making because it causes us to fall into amission-oriented frame of reference. Which alternative is the best for the overall mission? Which will perfectly dovetail with other ongoing projects? Which pays the most dividends in the longer run?
Plan of Action
Step five is to write an action plan that addresses the problem. An action plan is written to assist employee to do the task successfully without much guidence and support. It converts the goal or plan into a people process. It has three essential parts:
Based on the goal the action plans answers five questions - What? When? How? Where? Who?
- 1. Lists Resources
- 2. Lists Potential Barriers
- 3. The example below applies these steps to our sample problem. Some of the steps in the action plan are obvious.
Questions we asnwered after planing.
- What? - Task
- When? - By tomorrow night.
- How? - The written SOP.
Implement
We follow the most effective approach by constant involvement of stakeholders in the implementation proces as a way of minimizing resistance to subsequent changes.
We built Feedback channels into the implementation phase of the solution, to produce continuous monitoring and testing of actual events against expectations. Problem solving, and the techniques used to derive elucidation, can only be effective in an organization if the solution remains in place and is updated to respond to future changes.