Approaches to Problem Solving

1. Approaches to Problem Solving

2. Five Step Problem Solving • Identify • Gather Facts/Analyze • Develop Alternative Actions • Make a Decision • Follow Through

3. The Seven Step Problem-Solving Technique • Identify the Problem • Gather the Data • List Possible Solutions • Test Possible Solutions • Select the Best Alternative • Implement the Solution • Evaluate the Results

4. The Problem Solving Model • Set Goals • Assess Needs- Do an information analysis • Write Issue Statements • Set Action Objectives • Identify and Review Options • Select Strategies • Design Action Plans • Implement Action Plans

5. How to Solve Problems • Identify the Problem • Each person says what happened, how I feel, and what I need. Then restate the problem giving both viewpoints • Brainstorm Solutions • Evaluate Each Solution • Ask: Is it safe, How will it make people feel,Is it fair, Will it work? • Choose a Solution and Use It • Ask: It it working? Change to another solution if needed

6. The Problem Solving Model • Set Goals • Assess Needs and Collect Hard Data • Write Issue Statements • Write Explicit Problem Statements • Set Action Objectives and/or Goals • Define Selection Questions • Explore and Select Alternatives • Develop an Action Plan • Implement the Action Plan

7. Looking at Problems – An Artists ViewFrom: Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards (2012, 4th Edition) • To saturate your mind with information about a problem . . .To help you see . . . To achieve that perspective . . .You will have to be able to: • Perceive the Edges of a Problem Where are the boundaries? • Perceive the Negative Spaces of a Problem • What are the spaces around the Subject? • Perceive the Relationships and Proportions of a Problem • What are the things that don’t change or can’t change? What are the relationships of the parts to each other? • Perceive the Lights and Shadows of a Problem • What parts are visible? What are the shadows? • Perceive the Gestalt of the Problem • What is the unique set of qualities that make the problem what is is?

8. Problem Solving Model (MBTI) • Gather relevant date using Sensing Function to collect facts and details • Then look at options and possibilities using your Intuition Function to generate alternatives & possible solutions • Then use knowledge of cause & effect and the logic of your Thinking Function to list steps involved, weigh strength of each alternative and examine consequences of proposed actions • Finally, explore the impact the decisions you make will have on people using your Feeling Function by determining harmony with personal values and weighing gains & losses

9. Problem Solving ProcessFive Basic Steps • 1) Fact Finding • 2) Problem Finding • 3) Idea Finding • 4) Solution Finding • 5) Acceptance Finding

10. Problem Solving Process Continued • 1) Is it something you care about? Can you be specific about the problem? Do you have some influence on the problem? • 2) Describe two things: The present situation and the future situation as you would like it to be. • What are the positive forces and and what are the forces that resist improvement and keep the problem a problem? Restate your problem briefly, indicating the present situation and consequences and then the future situation and consequences of creating the ideal

11. Problem Solving Process Continued • 3) Most problem situations can be understood in terms of the forces which push toward improvement and the forces which resist improvement and keep the problem a problem. List all the forces on as many sheets as required to complete the task. Identify the helpful, driving forces and the forces that restrain or hinder. • 4) Review the two lists and underline those forces which seem most important, which you might be able to affect constructively.

12. Problem Solving Process Continued Action Steps • 5) For each restraining force you underlined list some possible action steps which you might be able to plan and carry out to reduce or eliminate the effect of the force. • 6) Then do the same for each driving force • 7) Decide which action steps appear to be most promising in achieving the desired change. Which action steps if implemented would cause the most resistance?

13. Problem Solving Process ContinuedAction Steps • 8) When you deicide on the action steps then list the materials, people, and other resources you will need to carry out the action • 9) Review and critique your action plan-eliminate items or action steps that do not seem to fit into your plan. Add new steps and resources then plan the sequence of action steps. • 10) Set up begin dates and ending dates and create a process for evaluating your plan

14. Decision Making Model • What is your central or core issue? Define it by looking at it from various perspectives • Brainstorm alternative strategies for addressing the core issue • List questions you have about each strategy • List advantages of each strategy • List the disadvantages of each • List and prioritize recommendations. • Write your rationale for each recommendation. • Decide which recommendations you will implement