Workshop Review(6) — The Need For Vital Problem Solving Skills
In the business world today, problems occur on a daily basis. These could range from small and meaningless errors within single departments too much larger issues found in a multitude of departments. Taking into consideration, the Butterfly Effect theory, even something as small as a faint breeze could eventually lead to an all-out storm. Following this in a logical manner then helps us to understand that one small failure is enough to rot an entire system and lead to a substantial loss for any given company. For this reason, effective problem-solving skills are extremely vital at present.
Take for example, Cooking. This could be an effective problem-solving skill in that you can prepared a meal without a recipe but the result could be an absolutely untasty dish. On the other hand, if we prepare a meal by following a proper recipe, we are in effect cooking something the right way which would most likely lead to success and the eventual result would be a tasty dish. In essence, we are talking about not just following the right method, but also about using a tailor-made strategy that will help you to overcome any challenges you may face at present. This also assists is in maintaining a step by step plan which will help us to solve organizational problems logically and ensure that we solve issues that arise by selecting the most suitable solution only.
Personally, I have also learned about a type of strategy referred to as the PJ strategy and this was created by the instructor of my class. The instructor began by unveiling the mysteries of the Iceberg Theory. The name of this theory is apt in that it related to the noticeable features of an aspect only. This being the parts of a situation or challenge that we see as being “the surface” of an issue as opposed to seeing the deepest and darkest parts of a problem or even its root cause. In a way, if we believe that everything happens for a reason then we need to find a way to shatter our reasoning until we are able to pinpoint the original cause of the matter. Once we accomplish this feat, we will then be able to tailor to our needs the most suitable strategy available. We can then direct this strategy to the problem we intend to resolve once and for all.
The next step would be to build a precise database including a set of useful strategies. This should be tackle various topics related to steps like, choosing the subject, taking inventory of our current site, verifying a useful strategy, and so on. In order to analyze this data accurately, we need to fully utilize various business tools we have available today, such as the Matrix Diagram, Pie Charts, Fault Tree Analysis, and so on. On the other hand, these tools could also assist us in seeing the bigger picture instead of just a small part of the picture. It also helps us to avoid judging something in an overly emotional manner.
The final step then is to verify the strategy. Once we have ascertained what the main cause is through data analysis, we need to execute a suitable strategy. Additionally, we need to run it through the PDCA method to ensure that the problem will be rectified. After all, a useful strategy should be the target we have been seeking from the beginning. The biggest impact for me since moving through this phase is that we always execute strategy without having accurate data or having completed an accurate data analysis and especially without setting a useful strategy in place prior to execution. This is the reason the problem is never resolved.
There are many situations in which problems could reveal themselves at the workplace. However, from a client’s perspective assisting co-workers in a resolving excel matter is a crucial part of development. As such the complex events you come across will in some situations require a simple solution while others may demand a more thoughtful and skillful outcome. The end result, however, draws a contrast between people who either don’t know how to use tools in order to figure out a useful strategy and who knows, that could bridge the gap between triumph and frustration.
