Evaluation of Problem Solving Tools

Evaluation of Problem Solving Tools

I am assigned to the Oceana section of the Acquisitions team. Our team had a lot of discussion of which particular problem solving tools to utilize for the accomplishment of this assignment. As members of a military organization dominated by Type A personalities, our initial inclination is to just attack the problem by brainstorming a solution. After reading the directions over and over again, we discovered that brainstorming was an approved method. We ultimately decided on two methods that meet our needs and broadened our perspectives of problem solving techniques. The two methods we settled on were the “Fishbone” or Cause and Effect Diagram and Force Field. While working with these two methods, we had to fight the urge to slip back into plain old brainstorming.

The Fishbone method was chosen for its ease of helping to identify causes root causes. It was an easy method for us to incorporate because we it allowed us to brainstorm ideas and lay them out in a easily identifiable format. Once laid out we were able to openly discuss causes of problems. After we had laid out the fishbone method, we transferred our causes and problems to the Force Field “T”. We then used to this shape to identify our Pros (driving forces) and Cons (restraining forces). These two methods combined together allowed us to thoroughly identify our root cause problem statement and then analyze that cause to associated risks. I believe that we were successful with these tools.

I can see the potential for using these in other situations. Although I was unfamiliar with these problem-solving techniques before this class, I believe that I have been exposed to them before, but did not know what to call it. I could have really used these techniques during operational mission planning. During planning sessions for operations, we would often get stuck when brainstorming sessions broke down or people got bored. With the use of specific...