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5-Step Problem-Solving Technique For A More Innovative Solution

You started a new role and determined that one of your business partners has been âmusclingâ through one of their key operational processes. They believe the process can be done more efficiently but have been so busy and havenât had time to figure out what the changes should be.

Youâve agreed to review the process to help solve their problem. Here are five steps I typically follow:

My 5-Step Problem-Solving Technique For A More Innovative Solution

1. Identify the problem. The first step is to identify what the true problem is. Talk with the business to understand what is the goal or problem that needs to be solved. If there is more than one problem, donât assume that they are necessarily related.

2. Assess the problem. Define the problem based on factual data and not opinions. You may want to pull reports, talk with other departments, and observe the process yourself. Then you can start to analyze the data to determine what is/isnât happening, or if there are any contributing factors.

Have you identified the root cause of the problem?
Can you identify the five Ws (who, what, where, when, why, and how)?

3. Develop the solution. This is a pivotal step, and you want to make sure you have the best solution (and not just a temporary workaround). Brainstorm possible solutions! Diverse ideas are contributed by diverse individuals with diverse perspectives.

Identify possible options. Is it viable to do nothing (at least for the short term)? Or are any options not plausible? You can exclude an option but explain why you excluded it. For example, different options could be various vendors.
Identify potential criteria (such as estimated cost, features/functions, and time frame). Criteria should be differentiators. If one criterion is the same across all options, then it can be excluded.
Evaluate the criteria against the options. For example, what is the three-year total cost of ownership for each option?
There are multiple options, and youâll determine which option is the best option. Document your analysis including your recommended solution into a report. Present the report to the business for their review and approval.

4. Implement the solution. Create a detailed implementation/project plan. Depending on your solution, you may need to include updated procedures, internal controls, testing, and/or training. Nobody wants âbadâ surprises when implementing something new. I believe there canât be too much communication so communicate, communicate, and communicate.

5. Monitor the solution. Once youâve implemented the solution, evaluate to make sure the solution is working correctly and has resolved the problem (continuously monitor and improve). Donât forget to update your disaster recovery and/or business continuity plan.

And last but not least, it may be worthwhile to solicit input from the business and document the process results (similar to a project wrap-up). Define what went well, what didnât go well and could be improved next time, pending issues, etc.

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5-Step Problem-Solving Technique For A More Innovative …

Uncertain economic conditions have prompted organizations to rethink their hiring process and attract top talent. In their quest to find the best candidates, most organizations have now realized that they have to look beyond academic qualifications and experience.

They are scouting for people who can not only complete their job at hand but also bring new perspectives to the table. Sharp thinkers and proactive resources are, therefore, in demand today as they can help a company grow in the right direction.

Here are some ways in which employers can benefit from hiring creative employees who think outside the box:

Creativity Brings New Solutions For Difficult Problems

In today's highly competitive landscape, companies need to stay one step ahead to win the trust and confidence of their customers. Moreover, with customers becoming more demanding, companies need to come up with creative problem solving and innovative solutions for complex challenges in the workplace.

A simple way to deal with this problem is to hire creative thinkers who can think outside the box and suggest better solutions. Over the years, creative thinkers like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have revolutionized technology with their innovative solutions. By hiring creative people, companies across industries can find solutions to difficult problems.

Creative People Find New Opportunities

Creative employee shows her boss her idea

By thinking differently, creative employees help organizations find new opportunities to grow. As creative employees do not believe in simply doing what they are asked to do, they show more commitment and proactivity in exploring other opportunities.

In doing so, they exceed expectations and take up jobs with greater passion. For most companies today, the biggest challenge is to identify the right opportunities and leverage them for good returns. Creative employees can be a great asset to address this challenge and explore potential areas of growth in the workplace.

Creative Thinkers Ask Questions Before The Customers Do

For most managers, a big challenge is to elicit an honest response from his/her team members. Even if the team members are honest in their assessment, it is not uncommon to find people who do not spend too much time thinking and minutely evaluating everything.

With creative team members on board, managers can see a paradigm shift in how the process works and the way in which they share their thoughts. Creative people think from different perspectives and ask questions that can be quite pertinent from a customer's point of view. Answering those questions is important to satisfy customers and grow business.

Creative Employees Have A Broader Outlook And Approach

Unlike analytical thinkers who have a set way of doing things, analyzing situations, and arriving at conclusions, creative employees have a broader approach. No two creative employees will react to a situation in the same way. Therefore, their approaches will be different from one another.

Different approaches bring new solutions to problems and enable organizations to respond to challenging situations. Moreover, their creative bent of mind can open up several unobserved issues and opportunities for the organization to look into.

Creativity Ushers Enthusiasm To Learn

Creative employees work on a project together

With the business environment becoming more dynamic, there is no room for rigidity. Companies need flexible employees in the workplace who have the enthusiasm to take up new challenges and explore different opportunities. Creative employees respond well to change. They do not shudder when they have to try something different, which can be a great boost for an organization that wants to manage costs and build leaders from within its workforce.

Investing in the career growth of a creative professional is a rewarding experience for the organization today. It is, particularly, beneficial for companies that lack the drive and confidence to reach out to customers. Creative thinkers can change things for the better and take the company to newer heights.

In addition to the above five benefits, creativity is something that you can build into your personal brand to stand out to employers while on the job search, and being a creative employee will also make you invaluable as technology continues to change the workplace.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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