Resources

Resources
Tools, connections, and resources for problem solving and achieving your goals.

Why Brainstorming Sucks and How to Fix It - Lists myths associated with brainstorming, describes the process as most people practice it (getting low grade results) and then how to fix it. Follow the links provided for a deeper dive, even when you need to register at a link to get the article - it's worth it and you will waste far less time doing ineffective traditional brainstorming. Key point: brainsteering - setting reasonable boundaries for your brainstorming to filter out meaningless ideas that won't help.

Problem Solving Eases Depression in Elderly: Although we are not involved in therapy, there are some interesting similarities in the process mentioned here and our own FACES process for problem solving. Clearly, problem solving is a skill that is valuable in all sorts of contexts, including during troubling times and significant life changing events. The process described in this article:

Seven steps are essential to PST. The therapist:

Orients the patient to the therapy and helps clarify and define the problem;

Helps the patient set realistic goals and expectations;

Works with the patient to "brainstorm" multiple potential solutions;

Helps the patient evaluate and compare the proposed solutions;

Works with the patient to select a feasible solution;

Helps to implement the solution; and

Evaluates the outcome.

Five Brainstorming Techniques: the PATCH Method: Accelerated problem solving model that would likely work best with groups that are used to working with each other. The process contains a familiar set of steps aimed toward generating ideas, filtering them thru sensible criteria, and then selecting them for implementation.

The Eight Fundamentals of Problem Solving: This brief article from Wharton School of Business isn't the final answer, and you'll get mixed opinions about using the scientific method hypothesis, but its points are well taken - especially define the real problem, solve the root cause of the problem (although I'd go deeper than the 5 why's advocated here), keep the solution simple, build momentum and remember time (if it takes several months you likely won't get there...)

The Problem Solver -- Consumer problems solved with the help from this Chicago Tribune writer, Jon Yates. Not really a problem solving model so much as evidence of how credibility, persistence, and publicity can sometimes help to solve what are essentially interpersonal communication problems.

Be The Bedouin: Spend More Time Understanding Before Problem Solving - from Tammy Lenski a recounting of a parable about calibrating and understanding before trying to solve a problem. Her central point: change the percentage of time spent understanding from 25% to 75%. Your solutions will be better.

Book On Solving Problems

Apollo Root Cause Analysis - by Dean L. Gano is the best single book I've read on the topic of problem solving. It is revolutionary in that it dismisses many of the myths about problem solving (such as getting to the root cause by identifying categories, as in a fishbone diagram) and clearly shows how event based problems follow these characteristic of cause and effect:

Cause and effect are the same thing

Causes and effects are part of an infinite continuum of causes

Each effect has at least two causes in the form of actions and conditions

An effect exists only if its causes exist at the same point in time and space

Key to Gano's approach is the insistence on identifying evidence for each cause. This helps neutralize the numbingly ineffective approaches of storytelling and categorization which often result in influential people steering the problem solving into unproductive areas. If the problem recurs, it hasn't been solved, and it is certain to recur until you have found solutions that address the actual causes.

The book illustrates RealityCharting, a method of tracing and documenting each cause the the level of accuracy that can lead to shared understanding and therefore effective solutions. This method is available in software but can also be used manually.

Read the sample chapter for an comprehensive review of classic problem solving/root cause analysis approaches and you'll likely be open to new ideas.

Even if you return to traditional problem solving methods, or move on to different areas, the information here is useful and could save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in ineffective problem solving efforts.

The Primes - How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem by Chris McGoff is less of a structured process than the one presented by Gano, but because of that is also more flexible. It's more of a tool box of problem solving facilitation methods - many of them a seasoned problem solver will recognize but presented here in one place they are valuable.

The Primes are a set of principles for bringing people together and impacting change. It reminded me of the Change Acceleration Process made popular (and used with much success) at GE and stays grounded in an event or team approach without wandering into the long complexities of six sigma. The Primes create and sustain a dialogue that will help your team tackle tough problems and still remain friendly.

There are many fascinating insights included in this quick read, including:

Groups work best when they start with the 'as is' and then move to the 'to be' (p. 18)

The chances of getting what we want increase as we become clearer about what we want. (p. 35)

What you don't know creates the invitation and the space for others to join you to bring forward information and ideas that you couldn't have imagined. (p. 59)

...enroll a team no bigger than absolutely required...every person you add to the team and everything you add to the process increases its complexity dramatically. (p. 61)

Nothing will happen until something we deem sufficiently significant is at Stake. (p. 69)

For the STAKE to be powerful enough to shatter the status quo, we have to believe that to remain in our current state is more dangerous than to embark on a risky journey that leads to an unknown future. (p. 83)

What looks and sounds like disagreement is often the result of individuals who are operating with different information (p. 163)

...and so much more. The techniques and tools described here are especially useful in cultural change, visioning a new future, and process improvement projects. It's a book that stands up to repeated readings. Think of it as a cook book you just might want to change some of the recipes but you'll create real magic by trying out the treasures that are included.

>> The Primes website

Of course we also recommend our own workshop on the topic:

Solving Problems Explore and practice a creative process for solving problems and creating success. Focus, Analyze, Create, Evaluate, and Select your ideal path to success. Collaborate and launch your solutions to optimize your results. >> More info

Front Range Leadership, LLC provides workshops, teleclasses and coaching to help you solve problems and achieve your goals.

For more information contact us here: info@frontrangeleadership.com

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