Step-By-Step Problem Solving: A Practical Guide to Ensure Problems Get (and Stay) Solved

by Richard Y. Chang, P. Keith Kelly

This guidebook takes a common-sense approach to probem solving and provides a wealth of practical examples and proven methods which can be applied immediately on the job. A simple, easy-to-use problem-solving process is introduced which is explained in a step-by-step fashion and can be used by individual contributors, middle managers, or top-level executives. "I only wish this was mandatory reading for everyone working in any organization, . . . so problems really would stay solved!"
Chuck Neal, Dow-Corning "Problems are a part of everyday life, and solving them just got a whole lot easier."
Carolyn Littlehale, Hartford Insurance Group

Paperback

First published May 25, 1993

Reviews

[Bibhu Ashish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book to structurally approach any problem at hand. Provides some great tools and a great framework for finding solution to any problem we face personally and professionally. The framework which the author has suggested is that all problem solving activity can be divided into following phases.
1-problem definition.
2-Root cause identification
3-Possible solution identification
4-Best solution identification
5-Action plan development
6-Solution implementation and progress evaluation
Each of the above phase has it's activities and sub activities which together form a powerful tool in the user's hand to solve very complex problems.

The section that I liked most in the book is the section where author has dealt with the problem definition phase. The two sub activities in the problem definition phase namely "Forming the problem statement" and "Desired state" will not only help to weed out the unnecessary noises while finding the right problem to solve, they will also make the complete activity of finding solutions to problems far better and effective.

Highly recommended!!!