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What creative problem solving techniques do you use?

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Sameh Nasr Project Controls General Manager - MRO & Offshore Rigs| Confidential Saudi Arabia
Problem solving is a mental process which is the concluding part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping where problem is defined as a state of desire for the reaching of a definite goal from a present condition that either is not directly moving toward the goal, is far from it or needs more complex logic for finding a missing description of conditions or steps toward the goal.

Problem solving has been defined as a higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and control of more routine or fundamental skills.

So, What creative problem solving techniques do you use?
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Rami Kaibni
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Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
There are many problem solving techniques but it all depends on the situation / issue which will determine which technique to use.
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AKSHAY JAIN Planning Group Leader| YOKOGAWA, Bahrain Gwalior, Mp, India
For problem solving group members need to make part of problem solving. They needs to feel any problem is their own and solution will satisfy them. In such environment people contribute their latent energy and out of box solution emerges.
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Demetrius Williams Atlanta, Ga, United States
Yes, I agree it would depend on what the problem we are trying to solve. You could use the 5 Whys, Root Cause Analysis or Mindmapping to name a few tools / techniques.
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Creativity, Innovation are both buzzwords in the last years (unfortunatelly). My recommendation is to search and understand the meaning of this words. After that, you will say that you can use any method to solve a problem adding creativity or innovation to it.
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Chauncene Henry Los Angeles, Ca, United States
A fundamental part of every project manager's role is finding ways to solve problems. It helps if you're a confident problem solver and it’s critical to your success. Much of that confidence comes from having a good process to use when approaching a problem. With one, you can solve problems quickly and effectively. Without one, your solutions may be ineffective, or you'll get stuck and do nothing, with sometimes painful consequences.

There are four basic steps in solving a problem:
1) Define the problem
2) Generate alternatives
3) Evaluate and select alternatives
4) Implement solutions

And yes, your solution does depend on the type of problem.
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Joseph Tierney Principal Consultant / Trainer| Tierney Consulting Services, LLC Yreka, Ca, United States
A problem is a root cause of one or more incidents (an ITIL definition). Usually, once the root cause or causes of a problem are determined, a resolution to the problem will present itself.

One way to solve a problem is to look at factors that may influence the potential incidents. A factor may be defined as something that influences a result but does not define a result. As mentioned, creating a fishbone diagram (Ishakawa diagram), within which each branch represents another potential factor feeding into the problem statement (the main line) is helpful. Also mentioned is the 5-Whys or 5-Hows (where you keep asking why or how until you can no longer ask it). It too has proven quite helpful.

My own experience indicates that when one faces a really difficult problem, one should keep conferencing in expertise until the root cause is determined.

I've also noticed that problems tend to encircle other problems. Sometimes it is like peeling an onion in that after you peel away one problem you discover a deeper problem.

I read on ASQ.org that it is actually somewhat unusual to find a problem with just a single root cause or factor leading to it.

I hope this helps.
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
What is missing is that: a problem is a difference between the perceived reality and the desire reality. So, you can work on the perception, you can work on the desire or you can work on the gap, which is the usual
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Anupam India
1. Brainstorming
2. Mindmapping
3. Lateral Thinking
4. SCAMPER
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Ahmad Yahya CEO| ADAM - Agile Digital Assistant for Managers Putrajaya, Malaysia
There are many tools and techniques to solving a problem. By generally speaking you will go through this process. Understanding the problem (no point finding the solution if you don't understand the problem), analyzing the problem, proposing the recommended solution (or alternatives like some of you like to put it), implementing the selected solution, and obtain feedback from the concerned parties. There might be residual problems of which you need to fine tune your recommended solution.
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Aejaz Shaikh PM I| Alyx Technologies India Pvt Ltd Pune, Maharshatra, India
SCAMPER covers all aspects of the problem solving and I personally would prefer SCAMPER technique given the scale of the problem.
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