What are the signs that you have successfully solved a problem?

Spending a good amount of energy on crafting a clear problem statement is often a wise investment. The clearer the problem statement, the easier it will be to achieve a satisfactory outcome. A useful problem statement: 1. Relates to something important for the organization and sets a clear goal. 2. Clearly describes the difference between where things are now and the desired goal. 3. Has main points (like the goal, current situation, and difference) that can be measured or counted. 4. Doesn't jump to conclusions about the cause or solution. 5. Is focused enough to be addressed promptly.

First, pinpoint what's truly at stake. Go beyond the obvious. Ensure you're not just treating the symptoms; aim for the root. Talk to different stakeholders; diverse perspectives often uncover hidden aspects of the problem.

To solve a problem, delve deep beyond the obvious symptoms. Engage various stakeholders for diverse perspectives. Success means finding clear, fitting solutions. For instance, missed deadlines root in insufficient skills training investment.

For me it would be to look at the problem critically and follow the steps below * Clarify and understand the problem * Clarify and Understand the solution * Define metrics to measuring your output * Walk backwards from the solution, what do you need to achieve the metrics set out * Itemize each step, categories them by milestones. * Acquire the necessary resources needed to acheive each step * Celebrate quick wins and milestone met. * Adapt to changes quickly

1. Before you start, define how the ideal world differs from status quo (set measurable goals). 2. Once you think you're done, measure the metrics you set out to change. 3. Set up a process to make sure the new status quo is self-perpetuating.

This to me, is also a key stage where we have to also consider the diversity of thought and experience (professional and lived) in our team. Without sufficient diversity, our ‘alternatives net’ won’t be cast wide enough.

One of the things that I encourage people to do is to start with their three top criteria (a feat in and of itself) and then to generate an alternative that ONLY maximizes only for that criterion. Go past the original brainstorming and think of "if we only cared about X" what would we do. Then evaluate those three alternatives. The best one may not be the one maximizing the top criterion but that's the one that usually gets picked without this approach. And once you have your contender, how can you bring in the characteristics of others to improve this one further? Divergence and then convergence. Risk here is missing the truly synergistic solution but the latter stage helps with that if you are ok "dialing back" your top idea a bit.

Stack up each potential solution against each other. How do they fare in real-world scenarios? Always weigh immediate benefits against long-term consequences.

Achieving desired outcomes indicates successful problem-solving. Avoiding unintended consequences is crucial. As a finance professional, monitoring post-solution metrics like profitability or efficiency validates effectiveness. The sustainability and longevity of a solution also underline its success. If it can stand the test of time and adapt to a company's growth, it indicates a well-thought-out resolution. Solution adaptability to new challenges shows preparedness for future issues. Feedback from stakeholders, both internal and external, adds another layer of validation. Their satisfaction, combined with an enhanced confidence level within the team, signifies that the solution has a holistic impact.

Implementing a solution requires that you've specifically (1) identified the problem and (2) outlined the outcome you want to see, and that (3) the metric of success is measurable. For instance, it's not enough to define the goal as vague as "We want our leaders to not be jerks." It needs to be something like, "We want supervisee ratings of their supervisors to improve 50%, which we will assess via XYZ." Measurement could look like: •A before-and-after survey •Qualitative data from the people impacted by the problem and thus the solution •Job performance ratings, hiring or retention statistics, grades, etc. And keep evaluating the outcome. It probably won't be fixed the first time, so be prepared to work at it.

In my experience, to ensure a successful solution implementation: 1. Articulate Deliverables: Identify the desired results and impacts. 2. Create a Plan: Outline tasks, deadlines, and assign responsibilities proactively. 3. Ensure Transparency: Communicate plans and activities to stakeholders effectively. 4. Define Key Metrics: Decide on key performance indicators that align with stakeholder expectations. 5. Hyper Care Support: Facilitate training, support, and guidance for the team to adapt to the new solution.

And when it's not working, you use adaptive learning methods to keep evolving and iterating until your measures are on track!

The emphasis on not just finding but also implementing and monitoring a solution is crucial in problem-solving. In my own practice, I've found that the true test of a solution's effectiveness lies in its execution and the continuous tracking of its outcomes. This approach, which involves meticulous planning, resource allocation, and collaboration, has always been integral to my problem-solving strategy. It ensures that the solution not only works as intended but also meets stakeholder expectations. This cycle of implementation, monitoring, and incorporating feedback is where real-world impact is made, a principle I firmly uphold in my work.

Quando começo a ver os resultados nas ações que recomendei para a área ou a empresa, tenho a certeza de que a minha contribuição ajudou a empresa. Geralmente, converso com a gerência senior ou diretoria e há a dúvida sobre como o Analytics pode ajudar a empresa a alcançar os resultados. Implementar um programa de inteligência com indicadores e cronograma de ações faz toda a diferença. Aqui nós utilizamos os processos da Metodologia Revie (Rede de Valor para Inteligência Empresarial) desde 2011 com excelentes resultados para os clientes.

Journaling throughout the process can be a helpful tool for reflection--and the entries don't need to be well-written--they're just for you. Every day you work on or even just think about the problem, describe what you did and reasons for that decision. Describe any effects you've already witnessed or heard about in response to your actions. Jot down ideas of what you might try the next day or during the next project. Once everything is completed, you'll have this narrative that reflects the tremendous amount of work you've done (sometimes we don't realize just how much effort we put into things) and the growth you've attained along the way.

I think independently if you succeed or not in the problem solving the key learnings are vey important to be reflected on as a team and there must be actions generated from them in order to improve ourselves, our processes and our lifes. Knowing that failures are also part of the learning process is key in order to thrive in problem solving.

A feedback is always important to assess the residual risk after introducing a set of alternatives to tackle the problem.. a residual drawbacks gives insights about the effectiveness of these alternatives and provides assurance about the primary assessment of the problem

Failures and setbacks are inevitable, and it is during these moments that your resilience and determination are crucial in effectively addressing the challenges at hand. This stage is particularly significant compared to others, such as defining a problem statement, assessing alternative solutions, and tracking the progress of the chosen solution. Strong observational skills will prove beneficial in every facet of problem-solving. They provide the chance to adjust, refine, and enhance your methods, thereby promoting ongoing improvement and flexibility. In summary, you gain valuable insight & knowledge by evaluating the feedback associated with the results generated by various inputs and strategies for future reference.

After successfully resolving a communication breakdown in a cross-functional team, we conducted a post-project review. We identified what worked well, such as improved communication channels, and what could be improved, like more frequent status updates. By reflecting on our problem-solving process, we not only celebrated our achievement but also applied the lessons learned to future projects, leading to continuous improvement.

Think of problem-solving as a journey, not a destination. Be prepared for detours. Challenge your first instincts; sometimes the best solution isn't the most obvious one. Engage in ongoing learning. Today's best practice might be tomorrow's outdated approach. Stay ahead of the curve.

One of the best innovation problem solving stories I’ve ever heard : A company won a million-dollar contract to design a sensor to detect pollutants at very small concentrations underwater. It was an unusually complex problem, so the firm set up a team of crack microchip designers. About 45 minutes into their first working session, the assigned marine biologist walked in with a bag of clams. Seeing confused looks of the chip designers, he explained that clams can detect pollutants at a few parts per million, and when that happens, they open their shells. They didn’t really need a fancy chip to detect pollutants - just a simple one that could alert the system to clams opening their shells. They saved $999,000 and ate the clams for dinner.

The signs come from data. If you have a plan and if you have your metrics, you are going to see if you are progressing or not, and then... you are going to know if your are solving the problem or if you have to adjust your plan

Do not be afraid to voice out creative ideas that might seem ridiculous or out of place. Challenging problems require out-of-the box thinking for a breakthrough solution.

Here are some specific examples of how to determine if you have successfully solved a problem: If you were working on a problem with customer churn, you would know that you had successfully solved the problem if the churn rate decreased. If you were working on a problem with product quality, you would know that you had successfully solved the problem if the defect rate decreased. If you were working on a problem with employee engagement, you would know that you had successfully solved the problem if the employee satisfaction scores increased.