The six stage problem solving process is a process that begins with a “mess” and ends with the implementation of a solution. The six step process is achieved by one of two styles of thinking:
Divergent
Convergent
Divergent thinking is akin to brainstorming. It allows for many ideas, directions and solutions to be formulated. Convergent thinking zero’s in on the best of the divergent thinking and begins to look deeper. The six stages are:
Exploring the mess
What problems or opportunities exist?
Are there stated or unstated goals?
Produce a description of the situation.
Identifying the key facts and data.
Searching for information.
Information is gathered from many sources.
What are symptoms and causes?
Information is culled and pared down to what is relevant to the situation.
What measures seam appropriate?
What remediation is available?
This phase can be considered completed once we have found and organized relevant information and have made some initial hypothesis about root cause and potential solutions.
Identifying a problem
Work towards a single problem statement or multiple sub-problems.
Which is the most important problem in this situation?
Is this problem like others we have dealt with?
What are the consequences of a broad versus narrow statement?
This stage is complete when a working problem statement has been produced.
Searching for solutions.
As the name implies; this stage involves finding potential solutions. The goal is a short list of candidate solutions. To get there we could consider the following:
What decisions are open to us?
What solutions have been implemented in similar situations?
How is the candidate solutions linked to outcomes of interest?
Evaluating solutions.
This stage is the bottom of the funnel – the point at which the preceding stages converge. The goal of this stage is to produce a working solution with supporting justification.
Implementing Solutions
The goal of this stage is to produce an implementation plan and execute enough of it to evaluate its impact and chances for success. It is worth noting that the success is as much political as technical. The current crude oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a potent reminder of the public relations and political agendas that could impact this and any of the other 5 stages.
Is the solution right for the environment?
Is it right for BP?
Is it right for the local economy?
Is it right for the government?
