Solve the Right Problem = Make the Right Decision

I’m reading a book about problem solving and decision making called Smart Thinking for Crazy Times: The Art of Solving the Right Problems by Ian Mitroff. He has a concept in the book he calls “solving the wrong problem precisely”. His premise is that because we do not take the time to adequately define the problem, or the decision to be made, we often end up solving the wrong problem, though the solution itself may be perfect.

He points out five strategies to avoid “solving the wrong problem precisely”:

• Pick the right stakeholders (perspectives in DecisionPlanner)
  
• Expand your options – look for more than a couple alternatives
  
• Phrase the problem correctly – always formulate at least two statements of the problem or decision from two different angles
  
• Expand the problem’s boundaries – attempt to see the big picture
  
• Be prepared to manage paradox

The book goes into detail on each of these 5 strategies. I’ll be writing more on each of them in this blog. DecisionPlanner can help you arrive at an optimum solution, but only you can do the upfront work in defining the problem to be solved, the decision to be made, precisely.

Would you like some help with decision making? Try DecisionPlanner at www.yoopersoft.com.