Problem Solving 101
Ken Watanabe
A description and demonstration of practical and basic problem-solving skills.
“Problem solving is a process that can be broken down into four steps: (1) understand the current situation; (2) identify the root cause of the problem; (3) develop an effective action plan; and (4) execute until the problem is solved, making modifications as necessary.”
“Step 1: Diagnose the situation and identify the root cause of the problem. 1A List all the potential root causes of the problem. 1B Develop a hypothesis for the likely root cause. 1C Determine the analyses and information required to test the hypothesis. 1D Analyze and identify the root cause.
Step 2: Develop the solution. 2A Develop a wide variety of solutions to solve the problem. 2B Prioritize actions. 2C Develop an implementation.”