Solving Complex Problems: Professional Group Decision-Making Support in Highly Complex Situations

by Alexander De Haan, Pauline de Heer

We live in an ever-changing world, where people with different interests and goals have to deal with an unpredictable future. In this world, everybody is solving problems every day. But especially when problems become highly complex, how do you know you are solving the problem you or your client are actually experiencing? How to include the different insights and interests of those involved? What needs to be done to reach a desired future, rather than a future you fear or dislike? People are best motivated to act upon complex problems when the essence of the problem is captured in a simple way. This book presents you with the basic techniques to do so. Applying these techniques will help you and your client to understand and oversee the problem and, eventually, to make decisions and act in situations in which it is not at all obvious what to do. The techniques in Solving Complex Problems cover: - Rational problem analysis - Creative idea generation - Dealing with uncertainty - Comparing different possible solutions If you love working on the complex problems this world brings, then read this book and learn new and practical ways of dealing with them.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2015

Reviews

[Jesse Ofner]

Understanding complexity, starts with understanding that it's almost impossible to actually understand it. Solving big problems is not a linear process. It's iterative and it requires thinking about the problem from multiple point of reference. This book explores a process and framework for helping decision makers, analysts and stake holders appreciate the process and work that needs to take place to design better solutions for creating a better world.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas and theories, but lack deep examples and implementation in real world situations.

[Rhythima · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good read for policy analysts, but it was very basic and everything could be summarised in a simple presentation.