Day 2 - Problem Solving Skill

Picture credit - SkippRichard

What is Problem-Solving Skill?

Problem-Solving Skill is the ability to determine the source of a problem and find an effective solution.

How to improve Problem-Solving Skill?

Set a goal to become a go-to person by mastering the art and science of Problem-Solving. 

Follow the LAST model to build your personal brand as a Guru of Problem-Solving. 

1. Learn - Invest time in learning different models/ techniques of Problem-Solving 
2. Apply - 
1. Identify a model suitable to you
2. Create a template to document the flow of the process
3. Find opportunities to use the selected method/ template
4. Maintain record/ process flow of every problem solving exercise you did
5. Maintain notes of your thoughts/ insights/ failures/ challenges…. to be used for sharing/ training others
3. Share - Share the insights captured in step 2 above in a planned manner (social media posts, blogs, videos, study notes…)
4. Train - Generate opportunities to train your peers and team members so that, over time, your organization benefits from your efforts

My learning for the day

Source - 5 Whys analysis, The 5 Whys process, 5 Whys example - the best and the worst examples

Author - Patty Mulder. Courtney Seiter, Mark Paradies

What is 5 Whys Analysis

5 Whys Analysis is a method to find the root of a problem. This method was invented by Sakichi Toyoda (1867 – 1930) (Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda’s father).

5 Whys in simple language is asking ‘why’ five times so as to reach the real root cause.

Here’s a good example to understand what 5 whys is - 

Problem - Delivery to customers of a tyre supply company was normally happening in 24 hours. Suddenly the company finds the delivery is happening only after 3 days

Here’s how they used 5 Whys - 

First why - Not able to deliver tyres within 24 hours – Why?

Second why - Supplier has insufficient stock – Why?

Third why - Supplier depends on exporter; cargo boats are delayed – Why?

Fourth why - The cargo boats are waiting for more freight customers to fill their boats – Why?

Fifth why - Fewer freight customers for the cargo ships – Why?

The tyre supply company has identified the real reason - Cargo ships are finding it difficult to get customers

Now they can find a suitable solution from a wide range of ideas starting from Closing the tyre business, setting expectations with customers, buying tyres from some other source, using some other transporting means…...-  

Beauty of this method

This forces people to think really deeply rather than giving flimsy excuses or barking at the wrong tree.

There is a simple defined process to implement 5 whys - 

1. Invite all impacted stakeholders
2. Select a meeting leader
3. Ask ‘why’ five times
4. Assign responsibilities for solutions
5. Communicate results of the meeting/ actions immediately after the meeting

Enjoy some great examples from Mark Paradies here

Purpose of this document

I took a 66 day challenge to study Life Skills last year (10 April 2019). To my astonishment, I succeeded in studying for 66 days one skill a day. 

My objectives of learning these skills were - To strengthen my mind to face life’s challenges with ease, To use these skills in my worklife for a better performance, To use these skills in my personal life for enriching my relationships, To open new possibilities to surprise myself. 

This is my next 66 day challenge (from 10 April 2020) - To share my Life Skills learning with my social media friends. 

I pray that my toil helps you in your success journey.

What are Life Skills?

UNICEF defines Life skills as - psychosocial abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. They are loosely grouped into three  broad categories of skills

• cognitive skills for analyzing and using information, 
• personal skills for developing personal agency and managing oneself, 
• inter-personal skills for communicating and interacting effectively with others.

Which LifeSkills are covered?

The World Health Organisation identified these basic areas of life skills that are relevant across cultures: 

1. Decision-making
2. Problem-solving
3. creative thinking
4. critical thinking
5. communication
6. interpersonal skills
7. Self-awareness
8. Empathy
9. coping with emotions
10. coping with stress.

Some trivia

‘Life skills’ was never part of the school curriculum. WHO/ UNESCO mandated academia to teach these skills in all schools across the globe in 1993.

Different countries educate their children in these skills with different objectives

• Zimbabwe and Thailand - prevention of HIV/AIDS
• Mexico - prevention of adolescent pregnancy
• United Kingdom - child abuse prevention
• USA - prevention of substance abuse and violence
• South Africa and Colombia - positive socialization of children.

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128 words - 1 minute reading - Flesch–Kincaid readability score 70-60 - English

The 5 Whys Analysis, pioneered by Sakichi Toyoda, aims to uncover the root cause of a problem through iterative questioning.

By repeatedly asking "why," the underlying issue is revealed, facilitating effective problem-solving.

Illustratively, consider a tyre supply company facing delivery delays. Through the 5 Whys method:

1. Initial inquiry: Why can't tyres be delivered within 24 hours?
2. Insufficient stock from the supplier.
3. Supplier relies on exporters; cargo boats are delayed.
4. Cargo boats wait for more freight customers.
5. Fewer freight customers for cargo ships.

The core issue emerges: Cargo ships struggle to secure customers. This method enables diverse solutions like adjusting business operations or exploring alternative suppliers.

The process encourages profound reflection, discouraging superficial explanations. Implementation involves stakeholder involvement, leadership, iterative questioning, solution allocation, and prompt communication of outcomes.