Problem-Solving? Read this….

 

Here's a stat that caught my attention......

In surveys of 106 C-suite executives representing 91 private- and public-sector companies from 17 countries ……. 85% agreed that their organizations were bad at problem diagnosis…….. What they struggle with, it turns out, is not solving problems but figuring out what the problems are.
— Are You Solving the Right Problems

Um…….. 85%…...….. that seems a little……... high?

So..... how to make sure you're figuring out the right problems?  Here's an article that's can help:  

"The point .... is not to find the “real” problem but, rather, to see if there is a better problem to solve."  …. Like the Slow Elevator Problem:  

The Slow Elevator Problem

Imagine this: You are the owner of an office building, and your tenants are complaining about the elevator. It’s old and slow, and they have to wait a lot. Several tenants are threatening to break their leases if you don’t fix the problem.

When asked, most people quickly identify some solutions: replace the lift, install a stronger motor, or perhaps upgrade the algorithm that runs the lift.

However, when the problem is presented to building managers, they suggest a much more elegant solution: Put up mirrors next to the elevator. This simple measure has proved wonderfully effective in reducing complaints, because people tend to lose track of time…

The mirror solution is …… not a solution to the stated problem. It doesn’t make the elevator faster. Instead it proposes a different understanding of the problem.

Worth a look? 

If you prefer to watch instead of read - here’s a 40 minute webinar on the topic .