Problem Solving Training Course - 1 Day

A problem is defined as, “the difference between the desired state and the current state”.
You have a problem every time there is a difference between your current state, and your desired state. The bigger the gap, the bigger the problem.

Problem Solving training is training designed to help you identify, define and then solve problems.
This training will help you close the gap between your actual state and your desired state.

In order to frame a problem, you must know two things: The facts of the current situation, and a clear description of the target state, ie what you want it to become.

If you frame the problem incorrectly, then everything will be endlessly confusing.
However, if you frame the question correctly, then everything will quickly fall into place.

There are two categories of problem-solving methods. Analytical and creative.
We need to be good at both types, so we will study both. We will start with analytical problem solving, which is the most commonly used.

Analysis is the art of breaking wholes into their constituent parts, and understanding internal structure and organisation.

Analysis is the most common form of problem solving.

There are two types of analytical problem-solving methods we cover on this course:

1. Problem cause solution and
2. Problem implication countermeasure.

Problem cause solution mapping is the best way to break problems down into their component parts and taking each part, one at a time, in a systematic manner.

Of course, each part may itself become the subject of further analysis, and broken down into its own subset parts. In this way a large problem is reduced and made more manageable.

There is a common fallacy that we want to warn you about, called “The single cause fallacy”.

It is tempting to try to blame a problem on a single cause, and thus oversimplify the analysis and fail to see the big picture.

We will demonstrate that there are always at least four causes to any problem, and usually more.

The four causes are: Material, Final, Efficient, Formal causes. You will learn about these and more.

The second type of analytical problem-solving method is problem implication and countermeasure. This method differs from the previous one by travelling forwards in time, to identify implications, instead of backwards in time to identify causes.

Problems are like weeds; one weed has the potential to spawn many more.

One problem has the potential to spawn many more. We need to nip problems in the bud and eradicate their offspring.

Problems are solved by asking and answering the right questions. We will formulate a set of universal problem-solving questions, that we can use in any situation to initiate the correct sequence of actions.

Creative problem solving is the second major category of problem solving and it is totally different to analytics. Creative problem solving may involve imagination and inventiveness to redefine the problems parameters. You may change the way you look at things and solve the problem at a single stroke, by approaching it differently.

This form of problem solving was exemplified by Walt Disney, Edward de Bono, and NASA. We will study examples so that we might learn their secrets.

There are many occasions when the problem can be recast as an opportunity. A situation which, on first sight, seems to be a problem, upon reflection, may be transformed into a profitable enterprise. We study examples of this and learn more secrets.

We close by observing that those who prosper in life are not those who have no problems, but rather, those who solve problems.
Success and money tend to gravitate to problem solvers.
So, let us all commit to becoming professional problem solvers and make the future better.

You review your notes and pick out the most important points.
You commit to implementing what you have learned.