BE A SOLUTION PROVIDER

 HOW TO BE A SOLUTION PROVIDER. 

PROBLEM SOLVING. 

Solution provider is a problem solving knight in shining armour. 

Problem solving is the way by which solutions are developed to remove an obstacle from achieving an ultimate goal. 

Many businesses have been extremely successful by recognizing a problem and creating a solution. The more people that are inconvenienced by a problem, the greater the opportunity to develop a solution.

Problem solving may refer to the process of finding solutions to problems encountered in life.

Solutions to these problems are usually situation or context-specific. 

➖ The process to a solution starts with problem finding and problem shaping, where the problem is discovered and simplified. 

➖ The next step is to generate possible solutions and evaluate them.

➖ Finally a solution is selected to be implemented and verified. 

⛔ Problems have an end goal to be reached and how you get there depends upon problem orientation (problem-solving coping style and skills) and systematic analysis.

There are many problem-solving techniques and methods. They are used daily in philosophy, medicine, societies, mathematics, engineering, business, computer science, and artificial intelligence. 

Problems to problem solving 

Much as there are various problem solving techniques and methods, so there are many and various obstacles preventing people from finding solutions. 

Some examples of problem solving impediments include confirmation bias, mental set, and functional fixedness

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. People display this bias when they select information that supports their views, ignoring contrary information, or when they interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing attitudes.

Mental sets represent a form of rigidity in which an individual behaves or believes in a certain way due to prior experience. It's a type of cognitive bias that can lead people to make assumptions about how they should solve problems without taking into account all the information available.The reverse of this is termed cognitive flexibility. These mental sets may not always be consciously recognized by the bearer. 

In the field of psychology, mental sets are typically examined in the process of problem solving,  with an emphasis on the process of breaking away from particular mental sets into formulation of insight.

 Breaking mental sets in order to successfully resolve problems fall under three typical stages: 

a) tendency to solve a problem in a fixed way,

 b) unsuccessfully solving a problem using methods suggested by prior experience, and 

c) realizing that the solution requires different methods.

🔺Rigidity or mental rigidity refers to an obstinate inability to yield, or a refusal to appreciate another person's viewpoint or emotions characterized by a lack of empathy. 

☯️It can also refer to the tendency to perseverate, which is the inability to change habits and the inability to modify concepts and attitudes once developed.

🔺Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to use an object only in the way it is traditionally used. 

Functional fixedness may also be defined as being a mental block against using an object in a new way that is required to solve a problem. This "block" limits the ability of an individual to use components given to them to complete a task, as they cannot move past the original purpose of those components

Problem solving strategies 

Problem solving strategies are numerous and may vary as per need and use, as well as area. 

Problem-solving strategies are the steps that one would use to find the problems that are in the way to getting to one's own goal. 

Some refer to this as the "problem-solving cycle".

The reason it is called a cycle is that once one is completed with a problem another will usually pop up.

In this cycle one will:

1.  Acknowledge,

2.  Recognize the problem, 

3. Define the problem, 

4. Develop a strategy to fix the problem,

5.  Organize the knowledge of the problem cycle, 

6. Figure out the resources at the user's disposal, 

7. Monitor one's progress, and

8.  Evaluate the solution for accuracy. 

INSIGHT. 

Insight is the understanding of a specific cause and effect within a particular context.

In Marketing, an insight is a statement based on a deep understanding of your target consumers' attitudes and beliefs, which connect at an emotional level with your consumer, provoking a clear response (This brand understands me! That is exactly how I feel! — even if they've never thought about it quite like that) which, when leveraged, has the power to change consumer behavior. Insights must effect a change in consumer behavior that benefits your brand, leading to the achievement of the marketing objective.

In marketing Insights can be based on:

1. Real or perceived weakness to be exploited in competitive product performance or value. 

2. Attitudinal or perceived barrier in the minds of consumers, regarding your brand. 

3. Untapped or compelling belief or practice. 

Insights are most effective when they are, or do one of the following:

🎈Unexpected, 

🎈Create a disequilibrium, 

🎈Change momentum, 

🎈Exploited via a benefit or point of difference that your brand can deliver. 

❤️In order to be actionable, as the expression of a consumer truth, an insight is to be stated as an articulated sentence, containing:

❗An observation or a wish, e.g. "I would like to ...."

❗A motivation explaining the wish, e.g. " because ..."

❗A barrier preventing the consumer from being satisfied with the fulfillment of his/her motivation, e.g. " but..."

🔺The gap between the second and the third term offers a tension, which constitutes a potential for a brand. Like there are concept writers for copies, there are insight writers.

🔺In technical terminology of insight in market research is the understanding of local market by referring different source of information (such as quantitative research and qualitative research) proving for the consumers' insight.

🌡️Insight is the sudden solution to a long-vexing problem, a sudden recognition of a new idea, or a sudden understanding of a complex situation. 

👁️‍🗨️  Solutions found through insight are often more accurate than those found through step-by-step analysis. 

To solve more problems at a faster rate, insight is necessary for selecting productive moves at different stages of the problem-solving cycle. 

❗NB. This problem-solving strategy pertains specifically to problems referred to as insight problem.

Problem solving methods 

Also remember that there are many ways, methods, techniques, approaches of solving a problem. 

Among these numerous methods I am here sharing with you an Eight disciplines problem solving (8D)method. 

The aim of this Eight disciplines solving method (8D method) is to approach and to resolve problems. It could typically be employed by quality entrepreneurs, engineers or other professionals. 

Focused on product and process improvement, its purpose is to identify, correct, and eliminate recurring problems. It establishes a permanent corrective action based on statistical analysis of the problem and on the origin of the problem by determining the root causes. Although it comprises eight stages, or 'disciplines', it is augmented by an initial planning stage. 

The 8D solving method disciplines are:

D0: Preparation and Emergency Response Actions: 

Plan for solving the problem and determine the prerequisites. Provide emergency response actions.

D1: Use a Team:

 Establish a team of people with product/process knowledge. Teammates provide new perspectives and different ideas when it comes to problem solving.

D2: Describe the Problem:

 Specify the problem by identifying in quantifiable terms the who, what, where, when, why, how, and how many (5W2H) for the problem.

D3: Develop Interim Containment Plan: Define and implement containment actions to isolate the problem from any customer.

D4: Determine and Verify Root Causes and Escape Points:

 Identify all applicable causes that could explain why the problem has occurred. Also identify why the problem was not noticed at the time it occurred. All causes shall be verified or proved. One can use five whys to map causes against the effect or problem identified.

D5: Verify Permanent Corrections (PCs) for Problem that will resolve the problem for the customer: 

Using pre-production programs, quantitatively confirm that the selected correction will resolve the problem. (Verify that the correction will actually solve the problem).

D6: Define and Implement Corrective Actions: 

Define and implement the best corrective actions. Also, validate corrective actions with empirical evidence of improvement.

D7: Prevent Recurrence / System Problems: 

Modify the management systems, operation systems, practices, and procedures to prevent recurrence of this and similar problems.

D8: Congratulate the Main Contributors to your Team: 

Recognize the collective efforts of the team. The team needs to be formally thanked by the organization.

🔺GROW Model

There are a number of different versions of the GROW model.

 The following Grow model presents one view of the stages but there are others.

As with many simple principles, any user of GROW can apply a great deal of skill and knowledge at each stage but the basic process remains the same as written below.

 There are numerous questions which an entrepreneur or the coach could use at any point and part of the skill of the entrepreneur or coach is to know which questions to use and how much detail to uncover.

The "O" in this version has two meanings.

G =  Goal: The Goal is the end point, where the client wants to be. The goal has to be defined in such a way that it is very clear to the client when they have achieved it.

R =  Reality:  The current Reality is where the client is now. What are the issues, the challenges, how far are they away from their goal?

O =  Obstacles: There will be Obstacles stopping the client getting from where they are now to where they want to go. If there were no Obstacles the client would already have reached their goal.

= Options: Once Obstacles have been identified, the client needs to find ways of dealing with them if they are to make progress. These are the Options.

W =  Way Forward:  The Options then need to be converted into action steps which will take the client to their goal. These are the Way Forward. The "W" of GROW can also include When and by Whom and Where to be doneor found, as well as the Will (or intention or commitment) to do it.

- Victor Kaludzu