Skip to Main Content
1. Overview
- Different stages of team development call for different problem solving methods
- Problem solving requires the use of a systematic process
- The appropriate decision making method is determined by the amount of time available for the decision and the impact of the decision
- Effective decision making requires the use of smart techniques
2. Problem Solving in Team Development Stages
3. General Problem Solving Steps
- Defining the problem: phrase problem as probing questions to encourage explorative thinking; make explicit goal statement
- Establish criteria for evaluating the solution: identify characteristics of a satisfactory solution; distinguish requirements from desires
- Analyzing the problem: discover the root cause and extent of the problem
- Considering alternate solutions: brainstorm to generate many ideas before judging any of them
- Evaluate alternate solutions: use ranking-weighting matrix; check for issues/disagreement
- Deciding on a solution: choose best answer to the problem from among all possible solutions
- Develop action plan: make team assignments with milestones(don’t underestimate time)
- Implementing the action plan: check for consistency with requirements identified in step 2
- Following up on the solution: check up on the implementation and make necessary adjustments
- Evaluate outcomes and process: review performance, process, and personal aspects of the solution
4. Decision Making Method Based on Time and Impact
5. Smart Decision Making is Enabled By. . .
- Modeling an open mind and asking for candid opinions
- Asking questions to encourage critical thinking and information disclosure such as:
- What elements would you choose to change?
- What changes would you make to solve …?
- Aligning rewards to team successes to ensure that individuals share what they know
- Ensuring that team members are aware of relevant roles and unique information required for team success
- Charging some team members to assume a position that opposes the team’s preference
- Creating an alternate team that attempts to find errors and weaknesses in the solution
- Using successive rounds of blind voting interspersed with discussions
