What is problem solving and why is it important - Kepner Tregoe

Problem-solving helps us understand relationships and implement the changes and improvements needed to compete and survive in a continually changing environment ... Home Resources Blog Whatisproblemsolvingandwhyisitimportant Whatisproblemsolvingandwhyisitimportant Shareon: ByWayneStottler,Kepner-Tregoe Howwehelpclients ProblemSolving&DecisionMaking Overtime,developingandrefiningproblemsolvingskillsprovidestheabilitytosolveincreasinglycomplexproblems LearnMore Forover60years,Kepner-Tregoehasbeenhelpingcompaniesacrossindustriesandgeographiestodevelopandmaturetheirproblem-solvingcapabilitiesthroughKT’sindustryleadingapproachtotrainingandtheimplementationofbestpracticeprocesses.Consideringthatproblemsolvingisapartofalmosteveryperson’sdailylife(bothathomeandintheworkplace),itissurprisinghowoftenweareaskedtoexplainwhatproblemsolvingisandwhyitisimportant. Problemsolvingisatthecoreofhumanevolution.Itisthemethodsweusetounderstandwhatishappeninginourenvironment,identifythingswewanttochangeandthenfigureoutthethingsthatneedtobedonetocreatethedesiredoutcome.Problemsolvingisthesourceofallnewinventions,socialandculturalevolution,andthebasisformarketbasedeconomies.Itisthebasisforcontinuousimprovement,communicationandlearning. Ifthisproblem-solvingthingissoimportanttodailylife,whatisit? Problem-solvingistheprocessofobservingwhatisgoingoninyourenvironment;identifyingthingsthatcouldbechangedorimproved;diagnosingwhythecurrentstateisthewayitisandthefactorsandforcesthatinfluenceit;developingapproachesandalternativestoinfluencechange;makingdecisionsaboutwhichalternativetoselect;takingactiontoimplementthechanges;andobservingimpactofthoseactionsintheenvironment. Eachstepintheproblem-solvingprocessemploysskillsandmethodsthatcontributetotheoveralleffectivenessofinfluencingchangeanddeterminethelevelofproblemcomplexitythatcanbeaddressed.Humanslearnhowtosolvesimpleproblemsfromaveryearlyage(learningtoeat,makecoordinatedmovementsandcommunicate)–andasapersongoesthroughlifeproblem-solvingskillsarerefined,maturedandbecomemoresophisticated(enablingthemtosolvemoredifficultproblems). Problem-solvingisimportantbothtoindividualsandorganizationsbecauseitenablesustoexertcontroloverourenvironment. Fixingthingsthatarebroken Somethingswearoutandbreakovertime,othersareflawedfromday-1.Personalandbusinessenvironmentsarefullofthings,activities,interactionsandprocessesthatarebrokenornotoperatinginthewaytheyaredesiredtowork.Problem-solvinggivesusamechanismforidentifyingthesethings,figuringoutwhytheyarebrokenanddeterminingacourseofactiontofixthem. Addressingrisk Humanshavelearnedtoidentifytrendsanddevelopedanawarenessofcause-and-effectrelationshipsintheirenvironment.Theseskillsnotonlyenableustofixthingswhentheybreakbutalsoanticipatewhatmayhappeninthefuture(basedonpast-experienceandcurrentevents).Problem-solvingcanbeappliedtotheanticipatedfutureeventsandusedtoenableactioninthepresenttoinfluencethelikelihoodoftheeventoccurringand/oraltertheimpactiftheeventdoesoccur. Improvingperformance Individualsandorganizationsdonotexistinisolationintheenvironment.Thereisacomplexandever-changingwebofrelationshipsthatexistandasaresult,theactionsofonepersonwilloftenhaveeitheradirectimpactonothersoranindirectimpactbychangingtheenvironmentdynamics.Theseinterdependenciesenablehumanstoworktogethertosolvemorecomplexproblemsbuttheyalsocreateaforcethatrequireseveryonetocontinuouslyimproveperformancetoadapttoimprovementsbyothers.Problem-solvinghelpsusunderstandrelationshipsandimplementthechangesandimprovementsneededtocompeteandsurviveinacontinuallychangingenvironment. Seizingopportunity Problemsolvingisn’tjustaboutrespondingto(andfixing)theenvironmentthatexiststoday.Itisalsoaboutinnovating,creatingnewthingsandchangingtheenvironmenttobemoredesirable.Problem-solvingenablesustoidentifyandexploitopportunitiesintheenvironmentandexert(somelevelof)controloverthefuture. Problemsolvingskillsandtheproblem-solvingprocessareacriticalpartofdailylifebothasindividualsandorganizations.Developingandrefiningtheseskillsthroughtraining,practiceandlearningcanprovidetheabilitytosolveproblemsmoreeffectivelyandovertimeaddressproblemswithagreaterdegreeofcomplexityanddifficulty.ViewKT’sProblemSolvingworkshopknowntobethegoldstandardforover60years. Related 3ProblemSolvingStrategiesforOperations “IT’SBACK”:TheDilemmaofRecurringProblem Weareexpertsin: ConsultingSolutions CapabilityDevelopment ContactUs Forinquiries,details,oraproposal! Contact ContactUs SubscribetotheKTNewsletter Weusecookiestoimproveyourexperience. Bynavigatingthesite,youagreetoourCookiesPolicy IAgree