PROBLEM SOLVING
“Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.” What is a problem?
“A problem is the differnece between the actual state and desired state.”
What is problem solving?
Problem solving is to face the problems and overcome impediments and finding a proper solution in the process, and resolving it permanently.
Human beings are born to face, and solve problems
If there were no problems in the universe, we could not have all the technologies that we have embraced now. No matter how experienced you are, you still face some kind of problems in your life and at work place. But the thing is – how to solve the problem with better solutions. Good problem solving skills seldom come naturally and these are consciously learnt and nurtured. Usually, we find a solution to the present problem for future results. The present problem arisen because of previous decision. Thus, as we solve problms, we should always keep in mind the present problem. Thereby preventing the problem not to arise again in future, and eliminating all the chances from recurring or occuring. Prevention is better than cure, and what cannot be cured must be endured.
Problem solving process
Every problem carries myriad solutions with it. Problem is an opportunity for improvement in any field. In order to correctly solve a problem, it is important to follow certain process. Problem solving is a key skill, and it is the one that can make a huge difference to your career. Problems are at the epicenter of what all people do at work places. Irrespective of the nature of the problems, a fundamental part of every leader of manager’s role is finding ways to fix them.
The following points are crucial for any problem solving process:-
Defining the problem
Generating and selecting alternatives Organizing viable solutions Implementing and monitoring progress
Defining the problem – “Einstein once said that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend fifty- five minutes defining the problem, and only five minutes finding the solution.” If we look at this quote, it clearly says that we can’t straight away jump into solving problem; rather we spend some time for defining the actual problem, so that better solutions will come out.
After the problem has been identified, it is important to fully define the problem so that it can be solved permanently. A well defined problem is halfway to being solved. The key to a good problem definition is ensuring that you deal with the real problem and not its symptoms. Once you determine what happened – why it happened, you shall be in a position to have been found root cause for the problem. At this stage, it’s also important to ensure that you look at the issue from different perspectives. Investigate causes and circumstances of the problem. If you only fix the symptoms that you see on the surface, the problem will almost certainly happen again, which will lead you to fix it again and again wasting time and other valuable resources. If you look deeper to figure out why the problem is occurring, you can fix it permanently and ensure such problems never occur again.
Generating and selecting alternatives – Once defined, the next step is to generate several alternative solutions to solve the problem. Before rushing to solve a problem, always make sure you look at all the available alternative solutions from different perspectives. Looking at it with different eyes is a great way to have instant insight on new, overlooked directions. The more information that is available, the better prepared we will be to come up with an accurate solution.
Organizing viable solutions – Before coming up with a solution, you need to first organize the available information. To generate viable solutions, you must have a solid understanding of what is causing the problem, and which solution is best suited for this particular problem. Otherwise, the total efforts that you had put would go to nix and in vain.
Implementing and monitoring progress – All efficient problem solvers tend to monitor their progress as they work towards a solution. If there is a good progress towards reaching their goal, then everything is fine. If not, they will reevaluate their approach or look for other strategies. After a solution has been reached, it is important to evaluate the results to determine, if it is the best possible solution to the problem.
The above process is most common in every problem solving process. You may go with different pro- cesses that are congruent and conform to your needs. In this way, you will be more successful at solving problems and soon you become sobriquent, as a ‘tough-task-master’ to solve difficult problems.
