Innerlogicofstrategicproblemsolving

The strategy-execution scenario should embrace the agile philosophy, take an iterative problem-solving competency, keep the speed at sync.

It is a continuously changing world with “VUCA” a new normal, unprecedented emergence is inherent in every venture of the business. No organization can afford to stick to its old ways of thinking and problem-solving. And effective strategy management is an iterative strategic problem solving continuum to bring up higher than expected business results.

Logical step-wise problem-solving scenario: There are both old problems and emergent issues; short-term pressures and long-term concerns. Many of today’s business problems are complex, and the future is the most difficult problem of our era. To deal with complex problems at the strategic level, it’s critical to take time and planning, doing better pre-work, frame the real problems, define alternative solutions, set the "success criteria," and enable consideration of the range of options. Thus, business leaders need to check around: Which solutions represent the best multifaceted value in terms of achievement of the business strategy to bring up the great outcomes? What solution options are available that will meet the customers’ needs and which option is the best from a strategic perspective to solve a multi-set of problems? Etc.

In essence, strategy development is about diagnosing the critical business problems, setting principles, making choices, and taking step-wise actions. There is no way to create a definitive prioritized list without more business context. Science, art, design, and humanity are interconnected to understand the “scope” of problems. It's important to look at the problem domain systematically and apply the “simplicity and flexibility” principles to solve problems innovatively. For some tame problems, it takes a logical step-wise scenario, identify the problem, find the factors involved in the final "incorrect" outcomes, do root cause analysis, try to find a systemic solution to deal with human and social concerns radically.

A concerted solution to a multi-faceted strategic set of problems: Many organizational problems today are complex and interdependent with interactive pieces and “conflict” goals. Strategic planning is an iterative problem-solving process. A strategy sets the right priority, diagnoses the root causes of problems, understands interconnectivity between varying issues, and intends to come up with a concerted solution to a multi-faceted strategic set of problems. From a problem-solving perspective, a good strategy is a premium solution that results in formulated planning and approach for the long-term action plan, boost positive morality and spur innovation to deal with the chain of relevant problems effortlessly.

Due to the ever changing environment, problems continue emerging, solutions should only be complete enough to define and plan the solution strategies. Nowadays, no organization can afford to stick to its old ways of problem-solving or get stuck at the state of “problem-solving impasse.” For every existing or emerging problem, we need to contemplate the varying causes behind it; for each problem that is worth the effort, we should ponder multiple solutions to solve it without too many side effects. A healthy process for problem-solving goes between flexibility and hard process; creativity and logic, the best practice and the next practice.

A fine-tuned solution strategy: Discussions of strategic plan issues must be ongoing and not merely a once-a-year exercise, Strategic problem-solving often has a very wide scope, intricate factors, dynamic characteristics, and needs to take an interdisciplinary approach today. There are a variety of gaps that need to be bridged for improving problem solving effectiveness. High mature organizations craft the tailored solution strategy that helps to classify and prioritize problems or concerns, address the pros and cons of each solution, make a distinction between obvious solutions and out-of-the-box solutions; and apply nonlinear logic to clarify cause-effect seamlessly.

Ultimately addressing the correct need is what determines the right problem and solves them effectively. In practice, to come up with a logical solution strategy: First, identify the critical business problem and eliminate all non-relevant perspectives. Next, identify or establish all relevant guided principles with regard to the business problem at hand. The combination of all guided principles defines a solution space for the business problem you are trying to tackle, and keeps updating a solution strategy to improve the overall problem-solving maturity. When circumstances change, you are devising the strategy, it needs to be relevant but also general to deal with the changes the organization will naturally experience and keep optimizing business solutions.

A good strategy supports the proven and interdependent business growth model, provides visibility, capability, and agility of business development. The strategy-execution scenario should embrace the agile philosophy, take an iterative problem-solving competency, keep the speed at sync. Strategic problem-solving should keep the long-term view within the short-term attention, take a holistic look at the variety of business relationships and interconnectivity, connect the wide dots to both frame the right problems in order to solve them effectively.

Posted in: Problem Solving,Strategy