Iterative Problem-solving Process & Practices

Problem-solving methodologies can be categorized into several types, each with distinct approaches and techniques.

Strategic problem-solving is a disciplined process that organizations use to make decisions and take actions that shape their purpose and activities, especially concerning the future. Thinking involved in problem solving is regarded as cyclical, where the solution to one problem leads to another.

Strategic Planning Process: Strategic planning is a disciplined process that involves a sequence of questions that help organizational leadership examine experience, test assumptions, gather information, and anticipate the future. 

Problem-Solving Practices: Problem solving involves divergent thinking to generate possible alternative solutions and convergent thinking to narrow down possibilities to find the best answer. In strategic problem-solving, some organizational decisions and actions are more important than others. Strategy often requires difficult decisions about what is most important to achieving organizational effectiveness.

Approaches to solving problems include algorithms and heuristics. A problem-solving algorithm guarantees a solution if followed strictly, but can be slow. A problem-solving heuristic is an informal, intuitive procedure that may lead to a solution. Heuristics include means-ends analysis, working forward, working backward, and generate-and-test. An effective strategy management is an iterative strategic problem-solving continuum to bring up higher-than-expected business results.

Problem-solving methodologies can be categorized into several types, each with distinct approaches and techniques. The challenge for improving problem-solving effectiveness is in prioritizing what you know about and keeping an eye open for signs of things you don’t know about.  Digital leaders and professionals today need to be in a continuous learning mode with multidimensional thought processes, interdisciplinary knowledge, strategic reasoning skills, challenging existing thoughts, knowledge, or standards, seeking additional knowledge and experience, and applying interdisciplinary logic to solve complex problems effectively. 

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