Four Essential Problem-Solving Tools Everyone Needs to Know

Generic Category: Developing People (2 CPD credits awarded, subject to KEO’s approval)

Course Duration: 3 hours

Funding available: Nil

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn how to use the four most popular and essential problem-solving tools in the market:
  • Cause-and-Effect
  • The Six Thinking Hats
  • Brainstorming
  • The Pareto Principle
  • Learn how to use the right tools for the right purpose, leading to increased productivity.
  • Understand the leadership skills needed to interpreting problem-solving results and developing solutions and/or processes to mitigate risks.

 

Synopsis

This workshop was created in response to the saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime!” Indeed, why should workers escalate issues and problems to their superiors or managers to solve? Consider how much more productive – including the money saved – an organisation becomes when everyone knows how to solve their own work issues/problems.

 

This workshop explains the four most ubiquitous and straightforward problem-solving tools around: –

  • Cause-and-Effect (or the Fishbone diagram)
  • The Six Thinking Hats
  • Brainstorming
  • The Pareto Principle (or the 80/20 rule)

When employees are given the freedom to solve their own work problems and only escalate them where necessary, everyone becomes more responsible and committed. A motivated workforce always leads to higher productivity. At the same time, this builds leadership among the workers and raises the standard of performance across the organisation.

 

Justification

Solving problems helps develop responsibility and leadership. Critical thinking is closely associated with problem-solving and is a top-5 skill in leadership and promotion of talents. You cannot have one without demonstrating the other. In the modern workplace, problem-solving is becoming expected in everyone’s domain of work. Problem-solving enables us to identify and exploit opportunities in the environment and exert (some level of) control over the future. Problem solving skills and the problem-solving process are a critical part of daily life both as individuals and organizations. Investing in these skills may help you improve your performance and increase your chances of advancing to a senior role.

 

Content

  1. “You can only solve a problem when you know what the problem is”. Understand the importance of knowing what problem we are solving.
  2. Understand the problem-solving process.
  3. Realise the costs involved in having supervisors and managers solve problems.
  4. Start with the simplest problem-solving tool – Asking 5 Whys.
  5. Structure the outline of problem solving and their benefits.
  6. Distinguish between “symptom” and “cause”.
  7. The importance of an effective “problem statement”.
  8. Learn how to use the four simple tools:
    • Cause and Effect (Fish Bone Diagram)
    • Six Thinking Hats
    • Brainstorming
    • The Pareto Principle (80-20 Rule)
  1. Understand the problem-solving cycle and how to incorporate this into the culture of the company.

 

Learning Methodologies

  • Interactive lecture for foundational knowledge.
  • Case studies.
  • Group discussions.
  • Practise all 4 problem-solving tools in class.

 

About the Trainer

Mr Joseph Wong
Joseph spent 36 years at Standard Chartered Bank managing traditional and innovative banking spanning Retail, Wholesale, Commercial banking, Marketing, Business Re-engineering, ISO9001 accreditation, Process Management, Sales Management, Communication, Micro-learning globally. He left the Bank in 2015 to start his own consultancy business (Delapro) focusing on Communication and Leadership. Joseph is also one of only a handful of Phonetics coaches in Singapore. His signature programmes Reverse-Engineer Phonetics (speaking well in one day) and The Three Monsters that Destroy Your Career (how to go into your first job like a leader) are trademarks of his ingenuity, creativity and leadership. He co-developed a sales app called Delapitch and launched it at the Singapore Business Show in September 2022, under a selling philosophy FOSTER Method that he developed himself. He is both ACTA and TESOL certified.

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-wong-creative/