To run an organization perfectly without even facing a trivial problem or difficulty is a null hypothesis which never happens and is rather an exception. Problems keep mounting so fast that organizations try to take short cuts and find a temporary solution. On the contrary they should deal with everlasting solutions and implement it at the grass root level. This will help in solving the core problem permanently. The goal should be to minimize the occurrence of problems – which means the organization must be courageous enough to tackle them head-on before circumstances force our hand. Below are some action points craft a high performance management for problem solving:

• Clearly defining the problem

As it is rightly said ‘A problem clearly stated is a problem half-solved’. Defining the problem is a primary and most important step. It simplifies the downstream process and conserves excessive time wastage occurring in cause identification. If not identified properly it may lead to predisposing the team to a particular solution without implementing root cause remedy.

• Collecting evidence and identifying

Identifying the problem not only gives a clear path for implementation but also helps in gauging the benefits of solving it. It aids in analyzing the impact in terms of dollars, time, “product”, rework, processing time. Also it is followed by the activity of collecting evidences. Which helps to illustrate that whether the problem exists, its size and the enduring nature of it.

• Methodology to be used

It encompasses a three step process which includes formulating an approach, when should the implementation be done and what should be the design. The best tool to facilitate a directional thinking is the Cause and Effect Diagram done by the people most knowledgeable and closest to the problem.

• Carry out the experimental test

In the case of carrying out experimental test of action plans, where solutions have been worked up and agreed to by the organization, the “trial and error” techniques will be required to verify that the solutions are appropriate and effective. To trail this strategy, the prerequisite is to identify the dependent variable – the variable that the team is trying to impact through changes in cause factors.

• Measure effectiveness of action plan

After all changes have been made and sufficient time has passed, the results of these changes should be analyzed, the team needs to go out and gather data on all of the measures of effectiveness. The data then calls for an analysis to check if a significant shift has occurred. This helps in reviewing the measure of effectiveness in alignment to organizational objectives.

Precise, direct and clear communication is the key to dealing with most organizational problems. Once you discover a problem, it’s critical to take action instead of letting it get worse.

Have a Transforming Tuesday!