Problem Solving for Business

Brainstorming Options and Alternatives

The term problem solving conjures up images of sitting in a mathematics class and trying to figure out how to solve a problem based on a formula and example and get the answer that the teacher expects and is probably at the back of the book.

In business, there seldom are examples that look exactly like the problem you are confronting. In addition, there are usually - and hopefully - many options to choose from rather than only one answer.

So solving business problems is different. To do it well requires several steps.

1. Understand the problem
2. Make sure that solving it is worth more than the cost of solving it.
3. Brainstorming and exploring options and alternatives
4. Choosing one of the options
5. Implementing
6. Monitoring and making changes if the solution is not working out.
Solving the typical (and not so typical) problems that businesses face requires both critical and creative thinking. Critical thinking includes analysis, synthesis, questioning assumptions, and working to understand the problem and its impact. See the list of questions to brainstorm below. Creative thinking means that you are looking for answers and solutions which may not be the obvious, like we've always done it before, type. The discussion has to go past 'but this worked the last time' to 'how is this situation different?' And 'what could be the impact of using a different solution this time?'

You can use any of the techniques described on the brainstorming techniques or tips or other pages on this web site. You may also want to check out an article called "20 Ways to Eliminate Creativity in the Workplace" on the BusinessBurrito.com website that takes a humorous look at the dangers of NOT incorporating creativity in your business.

Please drop me a note if you read any other great articles about problem solving, brainstorming, creativity, critical thinking, or innovation that I should know about and could include on this website. Contact me by using Contact Us.

The difference for solving problems is that you need to spend a good portion of your time first on questioning to understand the problem. A good beginning step is to use my list of basic questions:

What?
Where?
When?
Who Cares?
Who Doesn't Care?
Why?
Why not?
How?
How much?


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