Transcript Basic Concepts of Engineering Economy

Problem Solving /
Decision Making
Kepner-Tregoe
The New Rational Manager
Chapter 3
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 1
Chapter 3 Contents
 Acquiring
the Habit of Problem Solving
 PA Questioning at the Mgmt Level
 Abbreviated Use of PA
 When Actual has Never met Expected
 PA by a Team
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 2
PA Questioning at the Mgmt
Level

“managers who become directly
involved in problem solving are subject
to criticism for failing to set priorities
on their own time or to delegate
appropriately - in short, for failing to
manage their operations. Managers do
not need all the right answers….[they
need] willingness to ask the right
questions.”
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 3
Examples
 Shrinking
Bank Accounts
 Rejected Circuits
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 4
Abbreviated Use of PA
 “there
is no particular virtue attached to
slavish adherence to every step in the
entire process”
 “brief, informal use of the ideas can
reveal the cause of the problem”
 “experience makes people more adept
at singling out fragments…that apply”
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 5
Examples
 Trouble
Aboard Apollo XIII
 Plugged Spray Nozzles
 Spoiled Cattle Feed
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 6
When Actual has Never met
Expected
 Is
the SHOULD realistic?
has it ever been attained, anywhere, by
anyone?
 who says it is the SHOULD?

Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 7
Examples
 The
“On-Time” Misunderstanding
 The $27 Solution
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 8
PA by a Team
 Using
the common language of the
process to communicate and share
information
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 9
Examples
 Poor
Sales of the Model A
 Failing Pumps
 Imminent Strike
 NASA Contract Dispute
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 10
Conclusion
“
the process has gained an impressive
reputation as a communications device
because of its common language for
problem solving and because it can be
used by a team of people with various
technical backgrounds, experiences,
and outlooks”
Problem Solving / Decision Making
Chapter 3 - 11