How can we understand the problem?

Problem analysis methods

Method # 1 Fishbone analysis

Persons interrupt each other

Very little of what is Reasons for the problem communicated is concrete Deeper reasons

Person A talks constantly

Bad communication

None of the persons ask questions

�I� language is not used

The problem

Method # 2 Tree analysis

Step # 1: Identify a problem to focus on.

Step # 2: Find reasons for the problem (the root).

Step # 3: Find effects (branches).

http://hbr.org/2014/01/a-taxonomy-of-innovation/ar/1

https://pixabay.com/photos/tree-blue-sky-branch-branches-164915/

3. Branches = Effects of problem

1. The problem

2. Root = Reason for problem

Method # 3 5 W’s and 1 H

#1 What?

#2 Why?

#3 When?

5 W’s and 1 H #6 How?

#5 Who?

#4 Where?

Example of a problem

People do not communicate well with each other.

           

What does it mean to communicate well?

What does it mean to communicate badly?

Why is a person a good communicator?

Why is a person not a good communicator?

When is a person a good communicator?

When is a person not a good communicator?

Where is a person a good communicator?

Where is a person not a good communicator?

Who is good at communicating?

Who is not good at communicating?

How does a person become a good communicator?

How does a person become a bad communicator?

Method # 4 3 step problem analysis

Round one: 5 questions. 5 minutes.

1. What’s the problem?

2. What are the root causes?

3. Who is to blame?

4. What have you tried that has not worked?

5. Why have you not been able to fix the problem yet?

http://www.mckinsey.com/Insights/Leading_in_the_21st_century/Lead_at_your_best

Round two: 4 questions. 5 minutes.

1. What solutions would you like to see?

2. Can you recall a time when this solution was present?

What made that possible?

3. What are the smallest steps you could take that would make the biggest difference?

4. What are you learning in this conversation so far?

http://www.mckinsey.com/Insights/Leading_in_the_21st_century/Lead_at_your_best

Round three: 3 questions. 5 minutes.

1. What did you notice?

2. What were his or her underlying mind-sets?

3. What were yours?

http://www.mckinsey.com/Insights/Leading_in_the_21st_century/Lead_at_your_best

Method # 5 Problem formulation method

To formulate a problem, ask “In what ways might I……?”

Example: In what ways might I listen better?

http://thinkjarcollective.com/tools/how-to-formulate-a-creative-problem-statement/

Method # 6 Define a better problem

15 questions to help define a better problem 1. Why is this problem a problem for people?

2. To what extent is this the right problem? Are we focusing on the right things?

3. What is missing from the current problem definition?

4. Who is involved in the problem? Who is not involved in the problem? What are their needs, emotions and opinions?

5. What are different people's roles in creating the problem?

6. Is a solution "baked into" the problem definition?

7. How clearly is the problem defined?’ 8. Is there wrong information in the problem definition?

9. Is the problem defined in a way that it fit tools people know well? Example: A person has a hammer and defines the problem so he / she can use the hammer to solve the problem.

10.Where is the problem not? How can we do more of that?

11.Who else has a problem like this? What can we learn from them?

12.To what extent are you contributing to the problem?

13.How can you define the problem in a way that enables you to do something about it?

14.What can you learn about how people, who work in other industries, have solved the problem?

15.How can you use data to convince people about a problem? https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3313370577