Do you have a business problem? Follow the problem solving process

Do you have a business problem? 

Follow the below steps

Do you have a business problem?  that's really frustrating? Really challenging and confusing? Maybe you're pulling your hair out because you know it's such a big deal and you just can't make progress on it?

Ask questions and start writing.

The first step of the problem solving process is pinning the problem. And this is where you're going to come up with a really tough problem definition statement. You cannot skip this step. I've seen more problem solving go off the bars because people think oh we know what the problem is, and they answer a couple quick questions and they immediately rush into the solution. You're going to get in trouble, your Company is going to be slow.  If you do that. So, ask the blow question and think more about your own problem, I want you to look at all of the questions and understand you have to answer all of the questions. This isn't a pick and choose.

Breaking /Breach big problems into small problems

So we used the problem solving process to get a better understanding of what issues are really driving the problem before we rush off and solve it. So we broke it down in, into what's called the logic map. (List it go gown into smaller one)

Ensuring your all problem is well defined.

Be logical to define the problem.

Making/ generating best-guess solutions

Once you have a logic map built and you've identified all the issues that can be contributing to your top level problem, we need to start driving toward possible solutions. The good news is a logic map already starts giving you hints of what those solutions might be.

Analyzing/considering the possible solutions

Once you have a prioritized list of possible ideas and you've identified a best guess and initial hypothesis you want to go out and pursue, you need to do your analysis. But, you need to mindful about the way you do analysis. I'm sure you've had the experience of getting sucked into the numbers and, you're in a spread sheet. And all of a sudden you wake up and it's three hours later, and all you've been doing is making graphs and. Because you're getting too into the analysis and you're in to deep. So when you're doing analysis, I want you to not only go on that low road but also pull up to the high road every once in a while.

Ask yourself, am I still solving the right problem? Is my best guess still the right best guess? Am I having any insights out of the analysis I've already done? 

Creating fact-based declarations/ assertions

As you go to make your recommendation it's important to remember that assertions are based upon facts. So you're going to take your facts, take a step back from them and say what can I conclude? What can I recommend, based that on, based on the facts that are available? 

Question List below

What is the high level problem?

Answer focusing questions

What is the objective?

Who are the stakeholders/influencers?

How will you measure success?

What will be the specific scope?

What constraints exist?

Evaluate prior efforts

Has this problem been considered in the past? What’s different now?

Were there any challenges last time this was addressed?

What ingoing assumptions limit our thinking?

Who was involved in the problem solving?

Derive insights from new lenses

What are the perspectives of the CEO/ Director, front line staff, Customers?

This problem above your accountability and below your accountability

Can you reimagine the problem in new ways?

What happens if you remove built-in constraints?

Understand relevant causalities

Are elements of the problem derived from other elements?

What are the root causes of this problem?

Is there actually a deeper or preceding problem?

Are there repercussions to anticipate?

Are there chronology/sequence issues relating to the problem?

As You Analyze, Pick the Best Paths in the Least Time

“High Road” – Look from Above Always revisit your Best Guess and the “List the Problem” problem

Estimate expected rewards before you start detailed analysis

Use 80/20 and back-of-envelope thinking

Use experts as data sources

Share good ideas

Test your thinking

“Low Road” – Evaluate the Ground Only run the numbers you need to run

Don’t wander into the weeds for too long

Beware of “polishing dirt”

Focus your attention on only the best paths

Get back on the high road regularly to regain perspective and get out of the detail

Thanks for Reading

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