P r o b l e m S o l v i n g S t r a t e g i e s

James C. Galvin, Ed.D.

“In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33 (NIV)

Your role is bring back new tools to share with your organization

Umm…sounds like your organization has a lot of problems

You want to get your team working effectively on those problems

Use proven problem solving techniques to find more powerful solutions

Sticky Notes

Posting

Cluster

Rank

Detail

Intro

Point 1

Point 2

Point 3

Close

Action Map

Look and feel

Decide theme

Sales plan

OutlineWrite book

Edit

Design cover

ProofTo

printer

Back cover

Title testing

System Diagram

Hours per

week

FatigueMistake

s

Work to do

Work finished

Storyboard

Mike and Jeff talk by water

cooler

Mike goes to boss’s office

Jeff gets the CFO to agree

Eruption at staff meeting

Jeff packs up his office

A worried donor calls in

Then tragedy strikes!

Timeline1

998

199

9

200

0

200

1

200

2

200

3

200

4

200

5

200

6

200

7

200

8

200

9

201

0

201

1

PMI

Fast

Cash flow

Do we need it now?

Easy

Good Color

Nearby

We know them

Right timing

Getting approval

Too large

Bad servic

e

Quality issues

Rent one?

Outsource

instead?

Get out of this market?

Min

us

Plu

sIn

tere

stin

g

Matrix

Smart Electric

High Status

LowSafety Rating

HighSafety Rating

Low Status

Scion tC

Dodge Magnu

m

Nissan Versa

Kia Rio

Hyundai Tiburon

Toyota Yaris

Ford Taurus

Ford Flex

Subaru Outback

Volvo S80

Cooper Mini S

Lincoln MKS

Lexus RX

Cadillac CTS Acura

RL

You can repurpose used sticky notes, but don’t get carried away

Problem Solving Grid

                         

Make Honda Toyota Toyota Honda Jeep Toyota Audi Toyota Nissan Subaru Jeep Ford

Model Element FJ Cruiser Rav4 CRV Compass 4Runner A3 Venza Xterra Outback Liberty Ranger

City/Highway 20/25 16/20 19/26 19/24 20/24 16/22 22/29 19/26 16/20 20/26 15/21 16/19

                         

Fun to drive (10) 10 20 10 0 10 0 20 -10 0 0 10 0

Fuel efficiency (9) 9 0 9 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 0 0

Highway driving (7) 14 0 0 14 14 7 14 14 7 7 0 0

Quality/Reliability (6) 12 12 12 12 0 12 0 12 6 6 0 0

Hauling stuff (5) 10 10 5 5 5 10 -10 5 10 5 10 10

4WD, AWD, FWD (3) 0 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 3

18/17/16" wheels (4) 8 8 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 0

Total 63 56 43 43 41 36 36 33 30 30 26 13                         

Problem

1: State Problem / Goal

• Problem: Kids keep crying for a pet

• Goal: Decide what kind of pet to buy

2: Expand OptionsDog Cat

2: Expand OptionsDog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

3: Clarify Values

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Clean and sanitary

Likes to snuggle

Fun to play with after school

Leave for a weekend

Easy to feed and care for

Quiet

3: Clarify Values

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Fun to play with (10)

Easy to feed and care for (8)

Likes to snuggle (7)

Quiet (7)

Clean and sanitary (6)

Leave for a weekend (2)

4: Do the Math

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Fun to play with (10) # 0 - =

Easy to feed and care for (8) + # = -

Likes to snuggle (7) # + = -

Quiet (7) - 0 # +

Clean and sanitary (6) = - # +

Leave for a weekend (2) = + # +

4: Do the Math

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Fun to play with (10) # 20 0 - 10 = 20

Easy to feed and care for (8) + 8 # 16 = 16 - 8

Likes to snuggle (7) # 14 + 7 = 14 - 7

Quiet (7) - 7 0 # 14 + 7

Clean and sanitary (6) = 12 - 6 # 12 + 6

Leave for a weekend (2) = 4 + 2 # 4 + 2

4: Do the Math

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Fun to play with (10) # 20 0 - 10 = 20

Easy to feed and care for (8) + 8 # 16 = 16 - 8

Likes to snuggle (7) # 14 + 7 = 14 - 7

Quiet (7) - 7 0 # 14 + 7

Clean and sanitary (6) = 12 - 6 # 12 + 6

Leave for a weekend (2) = 4 + 2 # 4 + 2

+19 +19 -10 -20

5: Improve Solution

Dog Cat Lizard Hedgehog

Fun to play with (10) # 20 0 - 10 = 20

Easy to feed and care for (8) + 8 # 16 = 16 - 8

Likes to snuggle (7) # 14 + 7 = 14 - 7

Quiet (7) - 7 0 # 14 + 7

Clean and sanitary (6) = 12 - 6 # 12 + 6

Leave for a weekend (2) = 4 + 2 # 4 + 2

+19 +19 -10 -20

Problem Solving Grid

                         

Make Honda Toyota Toyota Honda Jeep Toyota Audi Toyota Nissan Subaru Jeep Ford

Model Element FJ Cruiser Rav4 CRV Compass 4Runner A3 Venza Xterra Outback Liberty Ranger

City/Highway 20/25 16/20 19/26 19/24 20/24 16/22 22/29 19/26 16/20 20/26 15/21 16/19

                         

Fun to drive (10) 10 20 10 0 10 0 20 -10 0 0 10 0

Fuel efficiency (9) 9 0 9 9 9 0 9 9 0 9 0 0

Highway driving (7) 14 0 0 14 14 7 14 14 7 7 0 0

Quality/Reliability (6) 12 12 12 12 0 12 0 12 6 6 0 0

Hauling stuff (5) 10 10 5 5 5 10 -10 5 10 5 10 10

4WD, AWD, FWD (3) 0 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 3

18/17/16" wheels (4) 8 8 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 0

Total 63 56 43 43 41 36 36 33 30 30 26 13                         

You’ve got problems and you want your team working on them effectively

Use proven problem solving techniques to find more powerful solutions

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