Powerful 4-Step Process to Become an Outstanding Problem Solver

Powerful Problem Solving
Ideas to become outstanding problem solvers
Arnaud Chevallier
We all solve problems daily
“How should we complement our product portfolio?”
“Why haven’t we met our sales target?”
“How can we reduce illegal immigration?”
Powerful-Problem-Solving.com 2 :15
But most of us haven’t received formal
training on how to do it
From Cartoonbank.com
You can become an outstanding problem solver by
following four steps
1. Define the Problem
2. Diagnose
3. Identify Solutions
4. Execute
First, define the problem by identifying your key
question and capture it in a problem identification card
Problem Identification Card
Project:
Situation:
C The key issue: the non controversial, relevant information about the
O
N problem. ONLY the relevant information
T
E
X Complication:
T The unique need for change (potentially illustrated by some of its
symptoms/consequences)
Key question: THE question you want to answer

Criteria for a high-quality tree:
S Optional action that will ensure that your tree is of superior quality
C
O
P Implementation parameters: Out of scope:
E
Deadlines, budget, numerical Actions that you could take
objectives, etc. but decide upfront not to
After Andersen Consulting, Issue-Based Problem Solving
Second, understand the root cause(s) of your
problem by building a “why” issue tree
Keep asking “why” or “how”
Go from the key

question to the analysis
Issue
trees
Are MECE
Are perspicacious
A tree progresses to the right consistently asking
“why” or “how”
Cause
Diagnostic - “Why?”
Break the problem in its Problem Cause
potential causes
Cause
Action
Solution - “How?”
Identify alternative Problem Action
solutions for the problem
Action
A tree goes from the key question to the data
sources
Sub-sub- Sub-...- Data needed /
Key question Sub-issue Sub-...-issue Hypothesis Analysis
issue issue Source
H1: Increasing the
price of our entire
family product will A1: Conduct
Of all generate more D1: Client
products? simulation,
revenue than the one interviews
benchmark
lost because of the
➚ prices? associated sales
Of only specific volume decrease
How can we products? H2: ... A2: ... D2: ...
➚ our
➚ publicity? H3: ... A3: ... D3: ...
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we ➚ offers? H4: ... A4: ... D4: ...
increase our
profitability? For all products
➘ the quantity
of raw
Raw materials Only for specific
materials?
costs? products
Switching suppliers
How can we Get cheaper
➘ our Employee raw
costs? costs? materials? Negotiating better
Other costs?
Trees rely on mutually exclusive and collectively
exhaustive (MECE) groupings
A B
C
A B A B
D D C
Mutually exclusive Collectively exhaustive

MECE sets
sets sets
Because they don’t study

MECE? enough
Because I grade very
steeply
Why are the grades
Because my evaluation
of my students
tool is inappropriate
mediocre?
Because the material of the
exam wasn’t covered in class
Because they don’t have
the intellectual abilities
Issue trees are perspicacious: they show
answers that are correct and add value
From Cartoonbank.com
- Where am I?
-At the intersection of Westheimer

- In a car, M’am
and Fourth.
✔ Correct ✔ Correct
✘ Adds value ✔ Adds value
Once you know the cause of your problem you’re
ready to find solutions by building a “how” tree
Using a plane
Using a helicopter
? Flying
Using a balloon
Using a rocket
How can I go
from NYC to
London? With a raft
Traveling on
the surface
Swimming
Traveling
by sea
Using a
submarine
You’ll also need to rate which solution is best for you
Price Speed Fun Ranking

Using a plane 1!
Using a helicopter 6
Flying
Using a balloon 3
How can I go
Using a rocket
2
from NYC to
London? Traveling on
With a raft
3
the surface
Swimming
Traveling
by sea
3
Using a
submarine 7
Then you’re ready to execute your solution: first,
convince others that it’s the right way
Then, implement it
1. Define the Problem
2. Diagnose
3. Identify Solutions
4. Execute
See more at
Powerful-Problem-Solving.com

Powerful 4-Step Process to Become an Outstanding Problem Solver

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Powerful Problem Solving

Ideas to become outstanding problem solvers

“How should we complement our product portfolio?”

“Why haven’t we met our sales target?”

“How can we reduce illegal immigration?”

1. Define the Problem

Key question: THE question you want to answer

After Andersen Consulting, Issue-Based Problem Solving

Keep asking “why” or “how”

Go from the key

Mutually exclusive Collectively exhaustive

Because they don’t study

-At the intersection of Westheimer

Price Speed Fun Ranking

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