Problem Solving: Generating Alternatives

This is the Problem Solving: Generating Alternatives course, and this is the third course of the Decision-making and Problem-solving for Business series.

Effective Learning

FAQs

As with rafting, a key to generating alternative solutions to problems is "getting into the flow." In this case, the flow refers to a creative mind-set that supports generating the alternatives. Benefits of getting into the flow include:

• diminishing your fear of failing to solve the problem,

• enhancing your ability to generate alternatives, and

• increasing your enthusiasm for solving problems.

Achieving the right mind-set is also critical for generating alternative solutions to problems. If you have an ineffective mind-set, you won't find alternatives.

Brainstorming, which is the generation of ideas, is key to finding alternatives for your problems.

What's the quickest way of getting from one point to another? It's a straight line. In problem solving, taking a rational approach is like traveling in a straight line--it's the quickest way to a solution.

The Science of Better Learning

If you're like many people, you'll take a look at the pros and cons for each system before deciding. Looking at the pros and cons for alternative solutions is also a very rational way of choosing the right approach for solving a problem.

Use the BEST model when generating alternatives for solving your problems. Teach your colleagues about the BEST model too, so that you have a common set of guidelines to work with.

By seeing from a customer's viewpoint, you can generate a greater number of problem-solving alternatives, and they're likely to be more applicable as well. You can think like your customers by:

• examining best practices for your industry

• monitoring industry chat boards and forums

• surveying your customers.

There are many benefits of using creative problem- solving techniques. And the techniques themselves don't require any more time than the obsolete, thread-worn strategies that have failed so many times in the past.

You can use analogies (while fully awake) to generate alternative solutions to your business problems. In this topic, you'll learn how to use analogies as problem-solving tools by:

• listing several related analogies

• listing the analogies' associated activities

• using the analogies list to generate alternative solutions to the original problem.

Analogies are a lot like airplanes. They lift you from the grounds of problem-solving stagnation and deposit you in your ideal location: success.

In this topic, you'll learn to take both paths in designing solutions to a business problem--the unconventional route and the practical route. You'll discover how to apply the steps of idea nets, a dynamic alternative-generating technique.

• casting your idea net

• hauling in your idea net

• analyzing and refining your catch of ideas

Idea nets combine the best of both problem-solving worlds--creativity and practicality. In this topic, you learned to use idea nets to generate alternatives for a given business problem by:

• casting your idea net

• hauling in your idea net

• analyzing and refining your catch of ideas.

Mind-maps are visual representations of your thought processes and tools for generating alternative solutions to business problems.

In this lesson, you'll learn effective strategies for leaping past roadblocks:

• using creative visualization

• handling problem overload

This topic will provide you with the tools needed to tap into those hidden problem-solving reserves. You'll learn how to use the components of creative visualization: isolation, relaxation, visualization, and repetition.

In this topic, you'll find out there is indeed a cure for the common cold. You'll learn to overcome the distress of ineffective problem solving by:

• using the big picture technique

• making a thanksgiving list

• expressing your feelings

Use this job aid to help you develop the attitudes that create a productive mind-set for generating alternatives.

Use this job aid to help you and your team as you go through the process of generating alternatives for solving problems.

Use this job aid to construct your own mind-map.

Achieving the right mind-set is critical for generating alternative solutions to problems. If you have an ineffective mind- set, you will not see alternatives.

Brainstorming, which is the generation of ideas, is key to finding alternatives for your problems. There are some simple principles behind productive brainstorming.

These are:

- generating many ideas

- withholding judgment on ideas

- exploring all the ideas that branch from other ideas

Looking at the pros and cons for alternative solutions is a very rational way of choosing the right approach for solving a problem. Pros and cons are at the center of the BEST model for generating alternatives for problems. BEST stands for Brainstorming, Evaluating, Simplifying, and Targeting.

By seeing a problem from a customer's viewpoint, you can generate a greater number of problem-solving alternatives, and they are likely to be more applicable as well.

You can think like your customers by using the following approaches:

- examining best practices ion your industry

- monitoring industry chat boards and forums

- surveying your customers

Analogies are statements about how an object, person, situation, or action is similar to another in process and relationship. Analogies can lead to new perspectives on and ideas about a business problem.

The idea net is a dynamic technique for generating alternative solutions to your problems.

Mind-maps mimic the layout of the brain. Brain cells have a central body, or nucleus, from which branches radiate. These branches carry information emitted by that nucleus to other parts of the brain. Researchers believe the more branches your brain contains, the more effective your thinking.

Professional athletes visualize success before it actually materializes – you can do the same. In support of using such creative visualization to overcome obstacles, recent medical studies have shown a great deal of problem-solving activity actually takes place at a subconscious level.

When problems persist, they can become disturbing. You need to be able to overcome the distress of ineffective problem solving.

Use this learning aid to find out about Brian's analogies.

Use this learning aid to find out about Jessica's analogies.

Use this learning aid to find out about Ian's analogies.

Congratulations! You just finished the Problem Solving: Generating Alternatives course, and this is the third course of the Decision-making and Problem-solving for Business series.

The Power of Professional Development - Why Investing in Your Career is Always Relevant

You think knowing stuff changes the game? You think sitting in a library, stacking up facts like you’re building a Jenga tower, is gonna make you a winner? Man, that’s cute. But life ain't a trivia night. Information alone? It’s worthless. It’s like having a Lamborghini in your garage but you never learned how to drive. You just sit in it, making engine noises. Vroom vroom. People walk by, they see the car, but they also see you ain't going nowhere. You got all this knowledge, all these textbooks, but when life throws a punch, you’re still looking up the definition of "duck." It’s what you *do* with that information that actually matters. Don't be the person with the shiny car and no keys.