Transcript Document

The Business of Thinking®
ThinkAbout
Problem Solving
better results through better thinking
WHOLE BRAIN® MODEL
A
D
UPPER
LEFT
UPPER
RIGHT
LOGICAL
ANALYTICAL
FACT-BASED
QUANTITATIVE
ORGANIZED
SEQUENTIAL
PLANNED
DETAILED
©2010 Herrmann International
HOLISTIC
INTUITIVE
INTEGRATING
SYNTHESIZING
INTERPERSONAL
FEELING-BASED
KINESTHETIC
EMOTIONAL
LOWER
LEFT
LOWER
RIGHT
B
C
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A problem is:
“A deviation from the norm, serious enough to require attention”
Problem solving is:
“closing the gap, bringing 2 things back into alignment”
And…
There are two types of problems:
Fix-it Problems
Do-it Problems
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Types of Problems
‘Fix-it’ problems
‘Do-it’ problems
Something needs fixing
Focus on the future
Something is wrong
We need to do something
Something needs changing
A more positive type of problem
More of a challenge
Examples
Examples
We are behind budget
We need to hire more people by June
Complaints are up 10%
We need to improve the way people
think
Staff turnover is up 8%
Someone is arriving late to work
©2010 Herrmann International
We have to reduce costs by 10%
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Problem Solving versus Decision Making
Problem Solving:
Decision Making:
Focused on the past
Focused on the future
Usually analytical
Often creative
Operational
Directional
Done at lower levels
Done at senior levels
Closing the gap
Making a choice
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Outcomes
By the end of this session you will be able to:
 Define problems as either fix-it or do-it types of
problems
 Use the Whole Brain Problem Solving Process to
solve problems
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
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ThinkAbout Problem Solving
How do the 4 quadrants like to solve problems?
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©2010 Herrmann International
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C
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ThinkAbout Problem Solving
D
A
Gathers facts
Analyzes issues
Argues rationally
Forms theories
Problem-solves logically
Works with numbers,
statistics, data
Sees the big picture
Recognizes new possibilities
Tolerates ambiguity
Integrates concerns and ideas
Problem-solves intuitively
Invents innovative solutions
Maintains standards and Recognizes interpersonal
consistency
difficulties
Develops detailed plans & Anticipates how others will feel
procedures Intuitively understands others
Approaches problems Understands emotional
practically
elements
Organizes & keeps track of data Picks up new verbal clues
Reads the fine print
B
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Finds overlooked flaws
C
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
There are many different ways of solving problems

No one way is necessarily any better than any other

They are all good if used at the right time in the right way

Most people have a preferred way of problem solving

Our challenge is ‘our way’ might not always be the ‘best’ way

Whole Brain Problem Solving gives us the best chance of
solving problems permanently
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Step 1 — Gather the Facts
Step 2 — Define the Problem
Step 3 — Develop Solutions
Step 4 — Implement the Solution
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Step 1 — Gather The Facts
A. What are the key facts?
Who?What? Why?
When?Where?
A
D
B
C
B. Do I have all the
details? Is there an
important piece I am
missing?
C. What does my intuition
tell me? What do other
people feel about it?
D. What is the main issue?
Am I missing any
links?
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Step 2 — Define the Problem
A
D
B
C
A. Based purely on the
facts…
B. From an organizational
point of view…
C. From a people
perspective…
D. From a big picture,
holistic view…
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02-10
Step 3 — Develop Solutions
A. What tools, techniques
and technology can we
use?
A
D
B
C
B. What processes,
procedures or
structures could we
use?
C. Who else can help us
solve this?
D. What wild "out-of-the
box" ideas can you
think of?
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10
Step 4 — Implement The Best
A
D
B
C
A. What resources do we
need?
B. What are the action
steps?
C. Who do we need to
involve?
D. How will we know
when it has been
solved?
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02-10
Individual Fix-it Problem
Select a ‘fix-it’ problem you ‘own’ and can solve
fairly quickly
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02-10
Group Problem Solving
Do-it Problem
©2010 Herrmann International
02-10