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Pocket Skills Guide
Problem Solving
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 2
“The measure of success is not whether you have a
tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the
same problem you had last year.”
John Foster Dulles, Former US Secretary of State
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 3
Working in teams can be a critical process of solving
problems within organisations
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 4
The pros of team problem-solving…
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016
Higher Commitment Increased Risk Taking
Reduced BiasGreater Output
5
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 6
Yet team problem-solving can be
problematic…
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 7
Time Constraints
ConformityCompetition/Self-
Promotion
Lack of Objective Direction
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 8
Problem-solving is a creative
event…
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 9
… but also needs to be a systematic
and continuous process…
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 10
The 4 As of Exploring Problems…
wareness
nalaysis
lternatives
ctions
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 11
At every stage of this problem-solving process,
expand your thinking in the beginning before
narrowing your focus…
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 12
Identify the problem, then expand thinking to consider all
perspectives:
- Brainstorming
- Charting all ideas
- Not criticising or discussing during this time
1. AWARENESS
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 13
1. AWARENESS
Narrow your focus to the one problem you will work on:
- Identify the critical issues
- Use criteria to review each problem
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 14
2. ANALYSIS
Expand your thinking to identify all possible causes:
- Gathering and analysing data
- Charting all possible causes
- Reviewing the process
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 15
2. ANALYSIS
Narrow your focus to the core causes of the problem:
- Use criteria to review each possible cause
- Identify the chief underlying root cause(s)
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 16
3. ALTERNATIVES
Expand your thinking to all possible solutions:
- Brainstorm all possible solutions to each main cause
- Be creative, think outside the box
- Pool together thoughts and “hitchhike” on each other’s ideas
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 17
3. ALTERNATIVES
Narrow your focus to the best solution available:
- Use criteria to assess the best solutions
- Agree consensus decision-making rather than majority rule
- Ensure the solution addresses the main causes
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 18
4. ACTIONS
Expand your thinking to all possible actions :
- Specify what needs to happen next and all practical actions
- Ensure the strategy is tangible, not just philosophical
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 19
4. ACTIONS
Narrow your focus to determine who is responsible for what
action and deadlines for completion of these actions:
- Clarify individual responsibilities
- Sequence all actions onto a timeline
- State indicators that will verify the problem is solved
- Agree dates for progress review
Expand your thinking
Narrow your
focus
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 20
Learn how to prevent the problem
from happening again in the future!
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 21
Follow the PDSA model for continuous improvement…
PLAN : Define the problem, collect relevant data, and
discover the problem's root cause
DO : Develop and implement a solution; decide upon a
measurement to assess its effectiveness
STUDY: Measure before-and-after solution
implementation, and compare results.
ACT : Document the results, inform others about process
changes
Review the outcomes of the
solution to the problem… is
the problem still there?
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 22
Remember, if the same problem still
persists, repeat the process until you
have dealt with the root cause!
©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 23
Transforming the Experience of Work…
Releasing Potential in People
Empowering Effective Teams
Driving Innovation in Organisations
Connecting Expertise across Systems
Email: enquiries@rdlteam.com
Phone: 02083262739

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Problem-Solving Skills Guide

  • 2. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 2 “The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.” John Foster Dulles, Former US Secretary of State
  • 3. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 3 Working in teams can be a critical process of solving problems within organisations
  • 4. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 4 The pros of team problem-solving…
  • 5. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 Higher Commitment Increased Risk Taking Reduced BiasGreater Output 5
  • 6. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 6 Yet team problem-solving can be problematic…
  • 7. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 7 Time Constraints ConformityCompetition/Self- Promotion Lack of Objective Direction
  • 8. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 8 Problem-solving is a creative event…
  • 9. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 9 … but also needs to be a systematic and continuous process…
  • 10. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 10 The 4 As of Exploring Problems… wareness nalaysis lternatives ctions
  • 11. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 11 At every stage of this problem-solving process, expand your thinking in the beginning before narrowing your focus… Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 12. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 12 Identify the problem, then expand thinking to consider all perspectives: - Brainstorming - Charting all ideas - Not criticising or discussing during this time 1. AWARENESS Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 13. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 13 1. AWARENESS Narrow your focus to the one problem you will work on: - Identify the critical issues - Use criteria to review each problem Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 14. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 14 2. ANALYSIS Expand your thinking to identify all possible causes: - Gathering and analysing data - Charting all possible causes - Reviewing the process Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 15. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 15 2. ANALYSIS Narrow your focus to the core causes of the problem: - Use criteria to review each possible cause - Identify the chief underlying root cause(s) Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 16. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 16 3. ALTERNATIVES Expand your thinking to all possible solutions: - Brainstorm all possible solutions to each main cause - Be creative, think outside the box - Pool together thoughts and “hitchhike” on each other’s ideas Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 17. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 17 3. ALTERNATIVES Narrow your focus to the best solution available: - Use criteria to assess the best solutions - Agree consensus decision-making rather than majority rule - Ensure the solution addresses the main causes Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 18. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 18 4. ACTIONS Expand your thinking to all possible actions : - Specify what needs to happen next and all practical actions - Ensure the strategy is tangible, not just philosophical Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 19. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 19 4. ACTIONS Narrow your focus to determine who is responsible for what action and deadlines for completion of these actions: - Clarify individual responsibilities - Sequence all actions onto a timeline - State indicators that will verify the problem is solved - Agree dates for progress review Expand your thinking Narrow your focus
  • 20. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 20 Learn how to prevent the problem from happening again in the future!
  • 21. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 21 Follow the PDSA model for continuous improvement… PLAN : Define the problem, collect relevant data, and discover the problem's root cause DO : Develop and implement a solution; decide upon a measurement to assess its effectiveness STUDY: Measure before-and-after solution implementation, and compare results. ACT : Document the results, inform others about process changes Review the outcomes of the solution to the problem… is the problem still there?
  • 22. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 22 Remember, if the same problem still persists, repeat the process until you have dealt with the root cause!
  • 23. ©Rothwell Douglas Ltd. 2016 23 Transforming the Experience of Work… Releasing Potential in People Empowering Effective Teams Driving Innovation in Organisations Connecting Expertise across Systems Email: [email protected] Phone: 02083262739