Process - Top Tips - PSTB

PSTB

This document is designed as a quick reference guide to Problem Solving,

Team Build (PSTB’s)

This will enable you to gain knowledge of a particular skill, task or process.

This means you can quickly find the key information that you need and refer to it on an ongoing basis whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.

Introduction

A problem solving team build is a structured approach to problem solving where everyone in the team joins in and can have their say. It results in a team building experience and solves problems whist driving consensus in decision making.

Once you have practiced PSTB’s a few times using them will become a way of life.

Process - Top Tips - PSTB

PSTB

What you need to know…

When running a PSTB you need to start by defining the problem and thinking about the causes of that problem. It can sometimes be difficult to define what the real problem is and it’s important to persevere and establish this as only then can you truly begin to solve it.

● Ask yourself and your team what is the problem and why is it a problem?

● Think about the root causes of the problem – it can help to think about people, process, financial causes

● All problem statements should start with ‘How To………….’ which will generate positive, action orientated thoughts when you begin thinking about solutions

Having defined the problem and identified the root causes, you can now look at generating solutions with your team. The easiest way of doing this is just to brainstorm as many thoughts as possible and make sure you list everything – all ideas are good ideas.

When the ideas have dried up, give everybody 3-5 votes for the ideas they like best. Sometimes the ideas may need to be grouped if they are along similar lines. Voting can be done by putting ticks on the flipchart next to the ideas that each individual wants to vote for or by a show of hands.

Take the most voted for solutions (maximum 3-5) and discuss the benefits and concerns associated with each of them.

Decide if any of the concerns are ‘killer’ concerns which make the solution inappropriate or impossible to pursue and therefore rule the solution out.

The best solution(s) should become obvious after this discussion and should be taken forward to the next step.

For each solution that is taken forward you need to work with your team to agree and commit to next steps. Next steps are usually recorded in the following table format…

Next steps

Next Step

Who

When