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Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving
Whether you are a student or a working professional, you can benefit from being better at solving the complex problems that come up in your life. Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving provides a general framework and the necessary tools to help you do so.
Based on his groundbreaking course at Rice University, engineer and former strategy consultant Arnaud Chevallier provides practical ways to develop problem solving skills, such as investigating complex questions with issue maps, using logic to promote creativity, leveraging analogical thinking to approach unfamiliar problems, and managing diverse groups to foster innovation.
This book breaks down the resolution process into four 1) frame the problem (identifying what needs to be done), 2) diagnose it (identifying why there is a problem, or why it hasn't been solved yet), 3) identify and select potential solutions (identifying how to solve the problem), and 4) implement and monitor the solution (resolving the problem, the 'do').
For each of these four steps - the what, why, how, and do - this book explains techniques that promotes success and demonstrates how to apply them on a case study and in additional examples. The featured case study guides you through the resolution process, illustrates how these concepts apply, and creates a concrete image to facilitate recollection.
Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving is a tool kit that integrates knowledge based on both theoretical and empirical evidence from many disciplines, and explains it in accessible terms. As the book guides you through the various stages of solving complex problems, it also provides useful templates so that you can easily apply these approaches to your own personal projects.
With this book, you don't just learn about problem solving, but how to actually do it.
Based on his groundbreaking course at Rice University, engineer and former strategy consultant Arnaud Chevallier provides practical ways to develop problem solving skills, such as investigating complex questions with issue maps, using logic to promote creativity, leveraging analogical thinking to approach unfamiliar problems, and managing diverse groups to foster innovation.
This book breaks down the resolution process into four 1) frame the problem (identifying what needs to be done), 2) diagnose it (identifying why there is a problem, or why it hasn't been solved yet), 3) identify and select potential solutions (identifying how to solve the problem), and 4) implement and monitor the solution (resolving the problem, the 'do').
For each of these four steps - the what, why, how, and do - this book explains techniques that promotes success and demonstrates how to apply them on a case study and in additional examples. The featured case study guides you through the resolution process, illustrates how these concepts apply, and creates a concrete image to facilitate recollection.
Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving is a tool kit that integrates knowledge based on both theoretical and empirical evidence from many disciplines, and explains it in accessible terms. As the book guides you through the various stages of solving complex problems, it also provides useful templates so that you can easily apply these approaches to your own personal projects.
With this book, you don't just learn about problem solving, but how to actually do it.
- GenresBusiness
304 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2016
47 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 7, 2020
Excellent
This book is a hidden gem. By far, the best book I have read on unstructured problem solving, what author calls complex, ill-defined and non immediate problems. Few would argue that many of strategic problems we face are ambiguous and uncertain. Authors approach to navigate those is excellent.
This book is a hidden gem. By far, the best book I have read on unstructured problem solving, what author calls complex, ill-defined and non immediate problems. Few would argue that many of strategic problems we face are ambiguous and uncertain. Authors approach to navigate those is excellent.
June 24, 2020
I've read this book as side study within my Complex problem Solving Program @IMD.
The book worked as a more developed (and academic) approach towards the framework we were working on in classes and video lectures.
The book has a lot of valid insights. It is also a nice mix between theory and a bunch of practical and really useful advises to how manage projects and complex situations in corporations.
Useful and interesting book. But that could be improved if balanced with more real life case studies and slightly less academic in the first chapters...
The book worked as a more developed (and academic) approach towards the framework we were working on in classes and video lectures.
The book has a lot of valid insights. It is also a nice mix between theory and a bunch of practical and really useful advises to how manage projects and complex situations in corporations.
Useful and interesting book. But that could be improved if balanced with more real life case studies and slightly less academic in the first chapters...
November 11, 2019
Thick book...full of of references...insightful
April 14, 2023
A very structured approach to complex problem solving, with a clearly defined action items (What you should do in each phase of problem solving). It goes above and beyond by discussing psychology of decision making with scientific do and don'ts.
Though it's quite exhaustive and content heavy. I highly recommend not to read it in one go. Instead, try to use it as a guide book - whenever you have a problem to solve, always refer back to the book and see if what your thought process is aligned with the best practices.
However, I think the tone and choice of vocabularies are a bit "fancy" and complex for beginner. If you are one, I highly recommend you to read Solvable, written by the same author - it's easier to understand and designed for beginner.
If you are looking to advance your problem solving skill in specific ways, this book offers the best advice for you.
Though it's quite exhaustive and content heavy. I highly recommend not to read it in one go. Instead, try to use it as a guide book - whenever you have a problem to solve, always refer back to the book and see if what your thought process is aligned with the best practices.
However, I think the tone and choice of vocabularies are a bit "fancy" and complex for beginner. If you are one, I highly recommend you to read Solvable, written by the same author - it's easier to understand and designed for beginner.
If you are looking to advance your problem solving skill in specific ways, this book offers the best advice for you.
October 15, 2022
Not a light read, but a valuable one. This is a true college-level textbook, and it will guide you through a detailed process for decision-making. If you need to make complex decisions in your professional life, this book will become a go-to resource for making smart, defendable decisions.
September 3, 2016
I had high expectations from this book. However I just got a little bit of structure with some of the maps, but all the rest was just a high level compilation of comments from other authors.
June 20, 2021
Great book, which has helped me to organize my thinking providing systematic approaches, as well as shed light on the techniques for tackling potential complex problems.
December 12, 2021
翻完這本書的心得：
- 要不你原本就是用類似的模式在思考問題，要不就是你也無法從這類型的書去進化自己的思考方式
- 書的內容沒什麼問題，但在我認知到「發現問題」比「找到方法」重要許多後，就沒再看過同類型的書了
人的自我變得脆弱的時候，書櫃裡就會比較容易出現這類書
讀墨由此去：http://moo.im/a/348lDN
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews