With much data on hand, companies may be tempted to take immediate action and start problem solving without focused direction. The lowered cost of communication in the digital age has made things more complex. It means that decision makers and problem solvers are now involved through various channels, diluting accountability and making it more likely for the problem to get lost in translation. Organizations would be wise to categorize the type of problem that’s at hand to tailor the approach accordingly, write McKinsey senior partner Aaron De Smet and coauthors.
To solve any problem—whether personal, business related, or societal—it’s imperative to set the course before embarking on the journey. Explore problem-solving steps, mindsets, languages, and frameworks that all involve setting time to define the right problem.
|
