Increasing Personal & Group Effectiveness Through Problem Solving

Learning skills to apply in any situation to achieve desired results

Frank Poltenson | Business Consultant

Property of Dovetail Development Company. © 2011 All rights reserved.

Property of Dovetail Development Company. © 2011 All rights reserved.

Workshop Premise

Effectiveness is the most important executive attribute. Problems (any undesirable situation) hinder effectiveness. Resolving problems is the most effective action an

individual or group can take to improve results. Effective problem solving requires a systematic and

disciplined approach. The US ranks 25th of 30 developed countries in math & problem

solving competency.

The PAPER system provides an effective problem-solving method for better results.

Increasing EffectivenessWhy is this so important?

People, working individually or in teams, are continually tasked with producing results.  Parties who work together using a common language and common effective methods will achieve better results faster with more efficiency and likelihood of success than those left to their own devices.  The ability to reach a goal requires special skills. Your ability to “solve problems” makes you more effective in delivering material contribution to your company.

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What abilities make you effective?What are the essential competencies of the Effective Executive (i.e You)?

The ability to materially contribute

The ability to assess situations

The ability to make good decisions

The ability to execute The ability to communicate The ability to work with

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Problem Solving & EffectivenessThe activities of problem solving directly enhance the executive’s competencies

Problem Solving:Recognizing, addressing, and successfully resolving any situation that impedes you from reaching your goal

Skills employed: Observation, initiative, analysis, leadership, communication, decision making, planning, and execution

ContributionAssessmentDecision MakingExecutionCommunicationCooperation

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Areas Where “Problem Solving” Improves Performance:

Increasing Effectiveness

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Achieving goals, resolving impediments to reaching goals

Closing new sales, preventing lost sales

Generating new marketing or business plans

Improving customer retention Reducing off-grade or rejects or

improving productivity Profit improvement initiatives Reducing interpersonal friction

Why Problems Don’t Get Fixed (completely, correctly, or at all)

No System: Going from a “Problem” straight to a “Solution”.

Most problems are not thought through or well defined which yields a mediocre solution. The problem remains unsolved.

There’s not enough time and energy devoted to fix problems; people are too busy with urgent things.

“That’s the way we’ve always done it.” “It’s not my job.”

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The 5 Step Problem Solving Process: Acronym PAPER

1. Problem2. Analyze3. Plan4. Execute5. Review

The method taught here is intended to be flexible so it can be applied anytime, effective so it is of use, and simple so it is not constricted by procedure or requiring specialists.

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Quick ConclusionsQuotes from an expert on deduction:

"It is a capital mistake to theorize in advance of the facts”

"The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession”

As you proceed with information collection, provisional solutions will present themselves. Write them down, but…

Don’t let an initial potential solution blind you to other possibilities (the Anchoring error).

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SherlockHolmes

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Choosing among optionsTo pick the best plan, what’s most important?

1. Anticipated results2. Probability of success3. Time, money, resources4. Benefit/Cost analysis: ROI5. Simplicity of execution6. Importance of results7. PolicyStakeholders pick the option that best fits their priorities.

Why Projects FailSuccess and Failure are opposite sides of the same coin

Fuzzy objectives Negotiating to failure Lack of management

commitment Insufficient resources Project management skills

Method Leadership Execution

Property of Dovetail Development Company. © 2009 All rights reserved.

Frank Poltenson | Business Consultant

Dovetail Development Company404-797-5445

fpoltenson@mindspring.com

Property of Dovetail Development Company. © 2009 All rights reserved.