Problem Solving
Overview
Fall in love with the problem, not the solution!
Businesses are increasingly being bombarded with shiny new solutions. Whether it be new systems/software, methods, tools or techniques that promise best practice performance, it can be difficult to know whether they are actually solving the most critical issues for that business or just adding unneeded complexity and waste. It is critical to understand the problem before finding an appropriate solution.
More than ever, businesses and society, in general, are becoming increasingly reliant on robust and effective problem solving to address larger and more complex issues which are evolving faster than ever before. The World Economic Forum in its Future of Jobs Report ranked complex problem-solving as the most important skill for jobs in 2020, followed by critical thinking and creativity consecutively.
The cost of poor problem solving is high not only for businesses but their customers and society more broadly. If businesses are ineffective at uncovering the root causes of their problems or identifying fit for purpose solutions that address those root causes, their problems will continue to reoccur or perhaps even worsen as a result. The old analogy of people taking pain killers as a means to address merely the symptoms of a problem rather than solve the root cause remains very relevant today. Addressing symptoms is costly, and should only ever be a short term strategy if necessary. Similarly, buying a Rolls Royce is also costly when a Ford will suffice (no offence intended). The solution should fit the problem, not the other way around!
Our Approach
We have a team of practical doers that have refined through experience a structured and robust approach to systematically solving problems. We are passionate about working collaboratively with businesses to develop a deep and rich understanding of their problems and context and coach them on a journey to identifying feasible and effective solutions. We aim to leave behind awareness and capability that can be applied to other problems that a business will face in the future.
If you need help developing your problem-solving capability, or have a wicked problem that you need help with solving, please get in touch with us!