Most Business management courses often hold a seminar or two, focussing solely on problem-solving strategies, with good reason. Companies often utilize these various problem-solving strategies to deal with their hurdles and resolve them successfully.
That’s why most MBA courses often have specialized courses on the same. Granted, it’s not easy, mulling over “what is problem-solving strategies?“
When it comes to “what is problem-solving strategies?“, the sky is literally the limit. Of course, the solutions taught by these business schools may differ slightly, but the end goal remains the same. Here is a list of some common problem-solving strategies you need to review.
- Define the issue:
When it comes to problem-solving strategies, most B-schools will list this as the first step you would need to take. When resolving an issue, be it in your personal life or business, you must always start by defining the problem. By defining the problem, you can gauge it accurately and take the necessary measures to resolve it.
For example, say that a company seems to be perpetually understaffed despite having a high employee turnover rate. This could be because the company opts to hire several employees but fails to follow through.
Their onboarding process needs more cohesion to the point that new employees are often left clueless and in the dark. Due to this handicap, the company appears understaffed. The issue at hand would have been easy to resolve had the hiring manager taken the time to define the situation at hand.
- Visualize the problem:
When faced with a challenging problem to crack, such as a broken down printer or a laptop, it is always a good idea to visualize the problem. This strategy should apply to most problems because it lets you determine the problem soon.
Once you visualize the ‘issue,’ you should get a good idea of the problem and can take immediate steps to resolve the issue right away. You may not be able to visualize all the problems and take them apart, but generally, you should be able to resolve the important ones quickly with this particular strategy!
- Draw a diagram:
On the face of it, it may sound a tad “crude” as a way to handle company issues. But you know how the old saying goes, “seeing is believing.” By drawing the problem, you are trying to visualize it and take it up one notch further.
Now, you should be able to see effectively what the issue is, what the problem is and how to resolve it better. Moreover, you can use this same method to illustrate further your way to resolving the main issue, as that should enable you to focus clearly on the issue.
- Break it up:
Most companies face huge problems rather than small ones. And if you are tasked with resolving it, the simple step would be to break up the significant issue into smaller pieces.
Doing so should enable you to focus on the small bits and resolve them quickly. In the end, you will find that you would have handled the big issue within the given timeframe.
That’s why it is always advised to break up the big problem into smaller ones since they will be easier to resolve. Moreover, by breaking them into smaller pieces, you should be able to resolve the massive problem in less time than otherwise.
- Redefine the problem:
When faced with what can only be termed an insurmountable problem – it will be a good idea to redefine the problem and alter one’s approach to handling it. For example, let’s say your company wants you to develop a product.
Fair enough, but the company lacks adequate resources for you to handle it. Instead of merely listing the issue as “insurmountable,” you might want to redefine the problem and take a new approach.
You can ask why the company wants you to develop this particular product in the first place. The answer has to do with capturing the consumer market.
In that case, you should list other viable and similar products that your company has adequate resources to develop for your company to review. In short, you are taking a pragmatic approach to dealing with a problem and one that your management will appreciate.
These are some of the common problem-solving strategies utilized by various companies worldwide. These strategies have been used and are some of the most effective across the board. That’s why it is always a good idea to implement any of these strategies when faced with a similar situation. Good luck!
