A Solution-Strategy Approach to Solving Problems

by Chris Fillebrown

By definition, everyone uses a solution-strategy to solve problems. For the most part, people use a solution-strategy without thinking about it, or even being aware of it. You learned your personal solution-strategies through your education. Your rate of adopting solution-strategies probably slowed when you entered the work force. You are employed based on your ability to solve problems, so it seems fair to say that how far you go in your career is a function of how well you solve problems. It seems equally fair to say that if you do not continue to learn new solution-strategies your career will be limited. Your approach to solving problems will become predictable. You will be limited to solving the kind of problems suited to your solution-strategy. When confronted with a new problem that your solution strategy does not match, your solution may fall short.

In this article, I am introducing the concept of a solution-strategy approach to solving problems. A solution-strategy approach to solving problems requires thinking about the nature of a problem, and thinking about how best to approach the problem, before you commit to a particular course of action. You are motivated to learn the solution-strategy approach to solving problems by your desire to become a better problem solver. The postings on this blog are designed to help you to find your way.

Frame of Reference assumes that no matter how skilled you are as a problem solver, you can always be better. You may be good enough at solving problems that you are satisfied to stop learning new solution-strategies. But that is your choice, not a desirable destination. Frame of Reference does not want to help you to become good enough that you can stop learning. Frame of Reference wants to help you become a better problem solver than you currently are, to help you remove the obstacles to reaching your full potential as a problem solver, to help you to evolve your skills.

The articles on the Frame of Reference blog to date have not talked about solving any specific problems. Stories of solving specific problems may come later. This article focuses on the approach we take to solving problems. The most important step in solving problems is how we think about the problem before committing to a particular course of action. Thinking about a problem includes deliberating about and seeking out the solution-strategy that best fits the problem. You choose the best solution-strategy available before you take actions to solve the problem in part to reduce cost. But before you can choose among solution-strategies, you have to know different solution-strategies. So far, this blog has discussed using the scientific method for solving business problems. Here. There are other solution-strategies available to you. They will be introduced in future articles.

If you are interested in learning more about a solution-strategy approach to solving problems, continue to visit this blog. Please tell your friends and colleagues about the ideas that are presented here.