Managerial Problem Solving

This seminar gives managers thinking and analysis tools for coping with difficult, complex, probabilistic, and conditional problems. Such problems have: 

● Multiple Causes & Symptoms

● Vague or Missing Data

● Both Technical & Psychological Components

● Cause & Effect Separated In Time

● Intermittent or Random Factors

● Recurrence & Intractability

This is an active seminar. It includes the usual panoply of TQM/Six Sigma techniques plus Systems Dynamics. It uses  realistic exercises taken from many years of managerial practice. 

Phone to Schedule

816-931-1414

1.0 What Is A Problem?

Typical Approaches

Problem Definition & Implications

Problem or Mess?

2.0 The Problem Solving Procedure

Define

Analyze

Identify Root Cause

Find Solutions

Identify Best Solution

Take Action

3.0 How To Specify The Problem

The Importance of Specification

Causal Vs. Symptomatic Specification

Elements of A Good Specification

4.0 Tools For Data Acquisition & Analysis

Fishbone Diagrams

Is/Is-Not Analysis

The Case Of The Tasteless Coffee

Forms & Checklists

Process Charts & Fishbone Diagrams

Surveys

Line, Scatter Diagrams, Bar, & Pie Charts

5.0 Managerial Statistics

Correlation analysis

Multi-Variate Correlation

Forecasting

Statistical Analysis

Statistical Sampling

6.0 System Dynamics

Elements of Systems

Systems Thinking

 7.0 Human Aspects

Maslow's Hierarchy & Motivation

How Motivation Affects Problems

Teams In Problem Solving

 8.0 Identify The Root Cause

Fishbone Diagrams

Is/Is-Not Analysis

The Case Of The Tasteless Coffee

Testing The Root Cause

 9.0 Search For Solutions

Brainstorming

The Columbo Approach

Building A Burger Better

10.0 Identify The Best Solution

Cost-Benefit Analysis

PNI Analysis

Weighted Factor Evaluation

Avoiding Unintended Consequences

11.0 Take Action

Three Types of Action

Planning The Implementation

Presenting Your Proposal

12.0 Putting It Into Practice

Valley Extruded Products Case Study

Case Problem

Peeling The Onion

• What is a problem? The definition may surprise you!

• Why problems persist

• How to define and specify your problem accurately. 

• Seven Information Gathering Tools that get the right information in the right way.

• Why teams are better at Problem Solving. 

• Using Charts & Statistics for Analysis

• How systems create their own problems

• How to identify the Root Cause that eliminates the problem forever.

• Practice Brainstorming as a team by following five simple rules.

• Many solutions might solve the problem but which is best? Learn three effective methods for decision making.

• Emergencies require fast action. Learn about three types of action in a crises.

• Put your new skills to work solving Realistic Case Problems.