Problem-Solving Techniques

1h 15mBeginner2023-05-11

Authors

Chris Croft

Lecturer, Thought Leader, Project Management, Leadership

Course details

You can't solve a problem unless you can get to the cause—and sometimes there's more than one. In this course, learn techniques for identifying the root cause of a problem, generating options, and selecting the best solution. Chris Croft takes you through several methods for identifying what's actually causing a problem, including looking at the whole system when a problem is actually a symptom of a larger issue. He also explains how to generate potential solutions using mind maps and decision trees, how to boost your creativity to help you come up with more insightful options, and how to use both logic and your intuition to select the right solution to your problem.

Learning objectives
Identifying the real problem
Generating possible solutions
Brainstorming
Boosting your creativity
Using your intuition and logic
Selecting the best solution
Considering implementation

Skills covered

Decision-MakingLimited SeriesProfessional DevelopmentLeadership and Management

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Make better decisions using problem-solving

1. Identify the Real Problem

02 - Determine what's causing the problem
03 - Ask the five whys
04 - Try the Kepner-Tregoe process
05 - Conduct a Pareto analysis
06 - Look at the whole system

2. Generate Possible Solutions

07 - Brainstorm
08 - Draw mindmaps
09 - Create decision trees
10 - Boost your creativity

3. Selecting the Best Solution

11 - Use intuition and logic to find a solution
12 - Examine the options
13 - Use a rating chart
14 - Find the best solution
15 - Utilize a risk analysis
16 - Navigate team decisions
17 - Make decisions using sensitivity
18 - Account for the sunk cost paradox
19 - Frame the decision - Subconscious and deliberate
20 - Consider four simple rules for decision making
21 - Consider implementation

Conclusion

22 - Summary