How to Make Sure You’re Solving the Right Problem

October 5, 2012

Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.*     *     *

It may be obvious that you can’t solve a problem that’s not well defined, but many people neglect this detail. Next time you think you’re ready to go into problem-solving mode, consider the following:

•   Establish the basic need for a solution. Why does the problem need solving?
•   Justify the need. Make sure it’s worth your time. Is the effort aligned with your company’s strategy? What do you, your team, or the company stand to gain from a solution?
•   Give it context. What approaches have you already tried? What have others done? Are there constraints on the solution?
•   Write the problem statement. Take your answers to the questions above and lay out the problem. Indicate the scope, the requirements of a solution, and who will be involved.
Today’s Management Tipwas adapted from “Are You Solving the Right Problem?” by Dwayne Spradlin.To read that article and join the discussion, please click here.

Also, you may wish to check out Management Tips from Harvard Business Review by clicking here.

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1 Comment

  1. Blogging About Business Update: Week of 10/1/12 on October 7, 2012 at 9:41 pm

    […] How to Make Sure You’re Solving the Right Problem HBR‘s Management Tip of the Day […]

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