Problem-Solving Success Tip: Define the Problem First

Define the Problem First. It seems obvious, but how many times have we gone to a problem-solving meeting and the discussion started with either whose fault was it or an assertion about the proper solution?

Explain what the problem is-what went wrong, what are the symptoms, what is the impact on your business and your customer's business. These are the things that someone knows at this point in the problem solving process. If the someone is not you, and you're leading the problem-solving effort, you need to do some research to find out. No guesses or assumptions allowed: the problem description must give the facts clearly and accurately.

Write it down. Writing the problem down forces you to describe it carefully, completely and unambiguously. The statement is a valuable tool to help focus your team on the real problem and avoid wasting time on extraneous issues. Everyone who reads it should understand what the problem is and why it's important. No jumping ahead, either: you don't know yet what caused the problem much less what you will do to fix it.

The written statement can also be used as a "sales tool" to explain what problem you're solving and why it's important. Use it to make sure you have the support you'll need from management, your customer and any other key players. This is especially important if the significance of the problem is not universally understood or accepted.

The problem is defined when everybody who reads your problem statement, including you, understands what will be different when the problem is solved and your team agrees that it describes the correct problem.

copyright 2005. Jeanne Sawyer. All Rights Reserved.

Jeanne Sawyer is an author, consultant, trainer and coach who helps her clients solve expensive, chronic problems, such as those that cause operational disruptions and cause customers to take their business elsewhere. These tips are excerpted from her book, When Stuff Happens: A Practical Guide to Solving Problems Permanently. Find out about it, and get more free information on problem solving at her web site: http://www.sawyerpartnership.com/.

In The News:

---

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT: What Brokers Should Know Before They Go
CNNMoney.com - 3 hours ago
( Kristen McNamara writes Practice Management, a column that looks at ways financial advisers can build and improve their business. ...

MedaSorb Technologies Corporation Announces Management Changes
CNNMoney.com - 3 hours ago
These statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. ...

Boston Globe
Lehman Private-Equity Arm Gains New Investment
Wall Street Journal - 21 hours ago
The business has $4.5 billion under management, and holds stakes in more than a dozen portfolio companies including a Spanish railcar manufacturer to a US ...
Lehman Deal Spins Off Part of Private Equity Unit Into Independent ... New York Times
Lehman deal on private equity close Reuters
Lehman Said to Be in Talks to Sell Fund to Managers, Reinet Bloomberg
FINalternatives - RTT Newsall 95 news articles

HE-5 Resources, Corp. Announces Reorganizational Changes Are ...
CNNMoney.com - 7 hours ago
New Management stated the following: "We are very pleased to begin our new operations and to share our visions and exclusive development program whit HE-5 ...

National Post
Management Consulting in the Government?
Newsweek - Jan 8, 2009
In the world of management consulting, high-powered and often expensive contractors infiltrate all levels of a company to determine how it can run more ...
Chief Performance Officer: Nancy Killefer TIME
Obama Appoints Government Performance Officer Washington Post
Obama's performance czar has tried to improve IRS The Associated Press
CFO.com Magazine - GovExec.comall 486 news articles

Amazon’s New Management Console Treads Lightly
GigaOm, CA - 3 hours ago
Today, Amazon ( s AMZN) Web Services announced a management console that illustrates how carefully Amazon is playing its role as a platform provider. ...
Amazon Web Services Launches Management Console CMSWire
Amazon Web Services releases web-based EC2 console CNET News
Amazon EC2 launches Web-based management console Examiner.com
ReadWriteWeb - PC Worldall 28 news articles

Peregrine management drops buyout plan, shares fall
Reuters - 8 hours ago
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 9 (Reuters) - South African wealth and asset management firm Peregrine Holdings Limited (PGRJ.J) said on Friday a management buyout plan ...

University of California regents may freeze management pay
Bizjournals.com, NC - 4 hours ago
A pay freeze for senior management of the University of California system will be considered by the UC Board of Regents during a Jan. 14 teleconference. ...

JPMorgan Asset Management's Bull SA Stake Falls To 1.72%
CNNMoney.com - 4 hours ago
PARIS -(Dow Jones)- JPMorgan Asset Management's stake in French IT company Bull SA (BULL.FR) has fallen through the 5% threshold to 1.72%, according to a ...

Helios High Income Fund, Inc. Monthly Dividend Declaration
CNNMoney.com - 37 minutes ago
Helios High Income Fund, Inc. is managed by Hyperion Brookfield Asset Management, Inc., a registered investment advisor located in New York City. ...
Pimco Pays Seven Dividends It Postponed Last Month Financial-Planning.com
PIMCO Municipal Income Fund and PIMCO New York Municipal Income ... Trading Markets (press release)
Western Asset Income Fund Declares Monthly Dividend Distribution PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
MarketWatch (press release)all 62 news articles

management - Google News

Basic Management Skills

Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60 % of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this... Read More

Learning To Let Go

If you have the entrepreneurial spirit (which clearly you have!), you probably have a tendency toward being a control freak. I know the feeling well -- "No... Read More

What Makes A Good Media Story?

Media relations can be difficult, but also rewarding. And the lessons we learn from working with newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and online publications should increase the effectiveness... Read More

Innovation Management: The Hype Cycle

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are distinct processes that enhance problem... Read More

I Cant Use This Approach Unless My Boss Does - Power, Accountability, and Consequences

People who work with us often struggle with this dilemma: in theory, they come to believe that it would be very helpful to use our approach with... Read More

Poly Bags and Pallet Shrouds - Just Get it Right

For many companies, procuring the right packaging, such as Poly Bags can be daunting. This is especially true of polythene bags. They come in all shapes and... Read More

Workplace Security Plan: Does Your Company Have One?

Consultant's Perspective...The threat of violence whether it emanates from a disgruntled employee or the threat of terrorism require both a concerted and an individual response. Terrorism in... Read More

The Cheapest, Forget It !

Wouldn't it be great if we got get the cheapest price on everything. I know I wouldn't want it. Would you? Do you strive to get the... Read More

How to Meet Quality Standards with ISO 9001

In today's hectic business environment, it is vital that we are all on the same page, right? But how do we know if we meet those standards?... Read More

Assertive Communication - 6 Tips For Effective Use

What IS assertive communication? Assertive communication is the ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way. It... Read More

Small Business Checking Accounts

ACCOUNTING AND BILLINGCHECK BOOKSWe recommend that you maintain a business checking account in addition to a small business credit card merchant account so that you can take... Read More

Never Wrestle with a PIG

The business books at the library and book stores fill many shelves. Some authors tend to run a little long at the keyboard. There is one voice... Read More

Managing People - No One Shows You What To Do

Imagine the following scenario - you pay a visit to your doctor one day and in the course of the conversation he or she lets it slip... Read More

Develop Your Managers and Keep Your Staff

Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times where we spoke about developing the people in your business, this week we're focussing on the importance... Read More

Five Strategies for Profitable Services Growth

In today's era of Professional and IT Services competition and consolidation, some small to medium-sized companies are proudly delivering 20%-50% annual growth.Unfortunately, the vast majority of firms... Read More

Conflict at 36,000 ft

This was supposed to be one of those sleepy flights that leaves late, crosses two time zones, and arrives at 11:00 p.m. But it wasn't.Yes, everyone is... Read More

Give Yourself a Boss? Day Gift

Become a better boss and reap the benefitsAnother interesting study was done. One that should really catch our attention. It reveals that employees who are happier and... Read More

7 Strategies for Sustained Innovation

The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's business environment. And while a breakthrough product or concept can catapult an organization ahead of its competitors,... Read More

What to Do When Trust is Low

Trust is essential. You can't run a business without it. Customers leave. Risk taking evaporates. You find yourself surrounded by naysayers ? or worse ? yes men... Read More

Déjà Vu MCI to Qwest International Inc: Can this Corporate Marriage Survive?

Current Situation:As of this writing, the MCI Board of Governors has given Verizon Communications Inc. one week to sweeten their $7.5 billion offer, otherwise they have no... Read More

Executive Performance -- Whos to Blame for Incompetent Managers?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal raised the question: Who's to blame for inept managers?The answer, of course, is the superiors who hire or promote... Read More

How to Use an HR Consultant

Bringing an HR consultant into your organisation can often be the only way to get a particular objective achieved. It may be a project that needs to... Read More

Is It Worth To Outsource? How One Can Outsource Wisely

Recent trends in software development market show that it is no longer the most efficient way to work onshore. Competition is too high and in some particular... Read More

Personnel Access Poses a Continued Risk

The Security Consultant's Perspective...Implementing Personnel Security Initiatives should be the objective of every security director, human resource director, facility manager and safety manager. Key to the assurance... Read More

More Problem-Solving Success Tips

The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important than ever in today's tough economy.From the time we're little kids, we're taught to solve problems by... Read More

Invite Self-Managed Staff

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being." -GoetheTwo hundred years ago,... Read More