HROB 3100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Problem Solving, Creative Problem-Solving, Lateral Thinking
17 Dec 2015
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Defining the problem diagnosing a situation so that the focus is on the real problem, not just its symptomsfollowing are some attributes of good problem definition: factual information is differentiated from opin- ion or speculation. Objective data are sepa- rated from perceptions and suppositions: all individuals involved are tapped as information sources. Broad participation is encouraged: the problem is stated explicitly. This often helps point out ambiguities in the definition: the problem definition clearly identifies what standard or expectation has been violated. Problems, by their very nature, involve the violation of some standard or expectation: the problem definition must address the question whose problem is this? no problems are completely independent of people. Identify for whom this is a problem: the definition is not simply a disguised solution. Saying the problem is that we need to motivate slow employees is inappropriate because the problem is stated as a solution.
