2. What is a Problem?
The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1995) defines
a problem as:
“A doubtful or difficult matter requiring a
solution”
“Something hard to understand or
accomplish or deal with.”
3. An Organized Approach to Problem
Solving
What is the
problem?
What are the
alternatives?
What are the
advantages/disadva
ntages?
What is the
solution?
How well is the
solution working?
4. What is the problem?
Be clear about the problem.
What do you know about the situation(related
to the problem)?
Be Specific as much as possible, on what you
think the problem is.
5. What are the alternative?
What are the boundaries?
What are the possible alternatives?
Brain Storming
(In organizations different people will have different expertise in different
areas and it is useful, therefore, to hear the views of each concerned
party)
Identify some of the alternatives you might
consider.
6. What are the
advantages/disadvantages of each
alternatives?
What are the advantages?
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each of the
problems you identified
What are the disadvantages?
What additional information do we need?
Gather the required and additional information related to the
problem and the solution you will select
7. What is the Solution?
Which option should we select to solve the
problem?
After evaluating the various alternatives, select what you think is the most
effective alternative for solving the problem
What steps are important in it?
Describe the sequence of steps you would take to act on the alternative.
8. How well is the solution
working?
What is my evaluation?
What adjustments are required?
Monitor the outcome of the action taken.
Review the outcomes, seek feedback, avoid
such problems in future.
9. Activity Time
1: Describe a situation from some few time
back when you demonstrated effective use of
the problem solving skill?
2: What action did you have to take?
3: What was the result of your action?