Problem Solving

The ability to make sound decisions and produce lasting solutions to problems. Effective problem-solvers take a long-term view that provides a thread of consistency that runs through their decisions. They are equally comfortable with creative (divergent) and analytical (convergent) approaches when problem solving and produce plans that are realistic and successful.

Problem-solving is a crucial capability in a world where open-ended problems are more complex and more pressing than ever before. The speed and efficacy with which problems are solved is a competence that differentiates you from people who muddle through.

There are 5 questionnaires in this cluster, they are:

Being Innovative

The extent to which you use fresh perspectives and creativity to generate ideas.

The factors determined are:

  1. Innovative problem solving
  2. Thinking creatively
  3. Using others to boost innovation

This questionnaire will help you to:

  • Tackle the problems you face in an innovative way
  • Employ different techniques to create new ideas and options
  • Use other people, both inside and outside your organisation, to enhance your innovation.

Critical Thinking

The extent to which you seek to understand, analyse and evaluate arguments and propositions.

The factors determined are:

  1. Comprehension
  2. Analysis
  3. Evaluation

This questionnaire will help you hone your critical thinking by focusing on the skills needed at each stage of this three-fold strategy:

  • Clarifying your understanding of a subject
  • Analysing and interpreting the information you have gathered to ascertain the facts, claims and arguments, as well as to highlight assumptions, errors and inconsistencies
  • Deciding what to do or believe by evaluating the evidence and judging its credibility.

Planning

The extent to which you develop plans that are specific, feasible and adaptable.

The factors determined are:

  1. Developing plans
  2. Involving others in your plans
  3. Implementing plans

This questionnaire will help you to:

  • Develop robust, yet flexible, plans
  • Involve other people in your plans in a way that taps into their expertise and wins their support
  • Implement your plans successfully.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

The extent to which you are systematic in clarifying problems, generating options and deciding on the most promising way forward.

The factors determined are:

  1. Clarifying the problem
  2. Collecting information and generating ideas
  3. Decision making and implementation

This questionnaire will help you to become better at:

  • Identifying the problem to be solved
  • Generating possible ways forward
  • Deciding on the most promising course of action and implementing it.

Strategic Thinking

The extent to which you take a long-term view of what has to be done.

The factors determined are:

  1. Adopting helicopter vision
  2. Looking outwards
  3. Involving other people

This questionnaire will help you to:

  • Adopt 'helicopter' vision so that you have a clear understanding of the big picture
  • Keep abreast of trends in your sector and changing factors in the external environment that will fuel your strategic thinking
  • Use other people to broaden your strategic thinking and form strategic alliances.

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