webinar: how do busy decision makers solve problems
TRANSCRIPT
“How do busy decision makers solve problems?” 1
s co t t dav i s managemen t
John Alan Davis
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
1
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
Agenda
• Welcome
• Housekeeping notes
• Session starts
• Q&A
• End of webinar
1
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
Housekeeping
• Slides will be available on our SlideShare page, link will be emailed to you
• Recording of the webinar will be available to download, link will be emailed
• Take the time to complete post-webinar survey that will pop up at the end
• You can type your questions throughout the session
• Time will be allocated in the end for the speaker to address your questions
About the Speaker
JOHN ALAN DAVIS is an excellent strategy consultant, outstanding
facilitator and intelligent negotiator with extensive international operational
experience, which he has linked to global marketing capabilities
awareness. He is founder and managing director of Scott Davis
and technical
Management,
development
high levels of
a company which has provided executive management
programmes for more than twelve years. His work has produced3
business competence and organisational skill for major companies such as
Sabic, Siemens, DEWA, Etisalat, Tanmia, ADNOC, Saudi Aramco, MAF
Carrefour, Dolphin Energy, Royal Commission Hospital, Spimaco and banks and
finance houses including ADCB, UNB, CBD, SABB, Mubadala, IPIC, UIC and
many others. He has blended more than fifteen years experience of
companies in the Middle East with a deep understanding of people skills in a
business environment.
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
How do busy decision makers solve problems
PROBLEMS require ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS leads to DECISIONS 4
DECISIONS produce SOLUTIONS
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
OK ? PROBLEM
SOLUTION ISSUES ANALYSIS 5
DECISION
CIRCLE OF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
DO
DEFINE THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
GATHER AS MUCH RELEVANT INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE
KEEP ASKING THE KEY QUESTIONS WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY
REMEMBER THE KEY PRINCIPLE OF OPPOSITES OR NEGATIVES
WHAT NOT, WHEN NOT, WHY NOT, WHO NOT
KEEP A RECORD OF INFORMATION YOU COLLECT FOR CHECKING LATER 6
DO NOT
JUMP TO AN APPARENTLY OBVIOUS SOLUTION WITHOUT EVIDENCE
EVALUATE IDEAS TOO QUICKLY
THINK - THERE IS ALWAYS A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
PROBLEM SOLVING
DO
DO ENSURE THAT YOUR OBJECTIVES WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS
TAKE TIME IN WORKING OUT MUST HAVES, MAKE THEM MEASURABLE
GET SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM
A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES AND REMAIN OBJECTIVE
RE EXAMINE THE PROCESS AFTER THE PROVISIONAL DECISION
TO TIGHTEN OR MODIFY AN ASPECT IF NECESSARY 7
DO NOT
JUMP TOO QUICKLY TO AN APPARENT OBVIOUS
LET PERSONAL PREFERENCES CLOUD THE PROCESS
CUT CORNERS or TAKE THE PROVISIONAL DECISION AS FINAL
THINK - THERE IS ALWAYS A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
DECISION MAKING
REMEMBER . . .
Much of what managers & supervisors do is solve problems & make decisions.
New managers often solve problems & make decisions by reaction.
They are under pressure, stressed and very short for time.
When they meet a new problem or decision they react as before.8
It's easy to get stuck in a circle of solving the same problem over again.
You should use an organised approach to problem solving & decision making.
Not all problems can be solved & decisions made by a rational approach!
Some people can see problems as opportunities!
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
KEY PROCESSGUIDELINESLIST
Defining the problem, with input from yourself and others. Ask the questions…….
a. What can you see that causes you to think there's a problem?
b. Where is it happening?
c. How is it happening? 9
d. When is it happening?
e. With whom is it happening? Remember issues before people!
f. Why is it happening?
g. Write a description of the problem in terms of what should be happening and is not
or what is different from what should be happening.
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
1. Define the problem
Defining complex problems.
If the problem still seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller steps before
asking the questions.
Verify your understanding of the problems with others to check your assessment.
Prioritise the problems.
If you discover that you are looking at several related problems, then prioritise which
ones you should address first.10
Check the difference between "important" and "urgent" problems. Often, what we
consider to be important problems are really just urgent issues.
Understand your role in the problem.
Your role in the problem can influence how you view the role of others.
Check on your feelings about your role in the problem, you should not ignore the views
and involvement of others.
THINK………‘SLICED BREAD’
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
SLICED BREAD
11
SLICING THE PROBLEM INTO SMALLER PIECES
MAKES IT EASIER TO SEE, MANAGE AND SOLVE
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
At this point, it's useful to keep others involved. Brainstorm for solutions to the
problem. Very simply brainstorming is collecting as many ideas as possible, then
screening them to find the best idea. It's critical when collecting
pass any judgment on the ideas, just write them down as you hear
the ideas to
them.
not
12
When selecting the best approach, consider:
a. Which approach is the most likely to solve the problem for the
b. Which approach is the most realistic to accomplish for now?
long term?
c. Do you have the resources? Are they affordable? Do you have enough time
implement the approach?
d. What is the extent of risk associated with each alternative?
to
THINK………’THE DRIPPING TAP’
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
3. Select an approach to resolve the problem
2. Identify alternative approaches to solve the problem
THE DRIPPING TAP
13
THE PROBLEM IS A DRIPPING TAP WITH 3 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
MOVE THE BUCKET, FIX THE TAP, CHECK THE WATER PRESSURE
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
WHAT CAN GO WRONG AND HOW TO AVOID IT
TIMING
PEOPLE
KNOW the MARKET
INVOLVE and TRAIN14
COMPETITION
NO INNOVATION
TALK to CUSTOMERS
TALK to CUSTOMERS
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems
on the
OUTSIDE
on the
INSIDE
AWARENESS AND BUSINESS FOCUS ARE KEY
15THEY HELP YOU TO RECOGNISE THE PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
LET’S TAKE SOME QUESTIONS AND CONSIDER SOME ISSUES – JOHN ALAN DAVIS
JANUARY 2015
© john davis – 2015 – scott davis management – how do busy decision makers solve problems