Problem solving module

The problem

• What is the problem? defining the issue.

• Your agenda: What are you trying to do? What happens if you don’t do it?
• Tried and failed: What have you tried to fix the problem?

• Why didn’t it work?

• Identify the blocker: What (or who) is stopping you
• If you had a magic wand, how would you fix the problem? What (or who) stops that happening?
• Containment: stopping the bleeding
• Could the problem get worse?
• If so what can you do to contain it while you solve it?
• Conflicting mandates: Where that “what” or “who” is a person or process with a mandate: What is that mandate? How is that person or process trying to achieve it? Is it inherently contradictory?

• Negotiations:

• How much flexibility is there in the conflicting mandate? What sort of things could be changed to help you without disrupting that mandate?
• Psychological approaches: what problems does the mandate holder have? If it isn't working for you, likely it isn't working out for him/her either.