Problem Solving Checklist

A problem solving checklist for success

By Ian Richardson, Managing Partner, Richardson & Richardson Consulting

This blog is presenting a simple list of questions to address as part of a problem solving checklist. For each item, you’ll notice I’ve given a few areas to consider (questions to ask), as well as how often I would ask them, and a stoplight rating around how important I consider the perspective to gather (Red – Don’t proceed without getting this perspective, Yellow – get these perspectives at some point during the process, Green – get these perspectives if you have time).

List 1: Problems

Note that I’m considering this no matter what type of problem I’m trying to solve (sales, delivery, HR, whatever). It is important to run through the entirety of the problem solving checklist to make sure you’re not missing key perspectives before crafting your solution.

• Team Leader of the team experiencing the problem.
  • Stoplight rating: RED
  • Questions I would ask:
    • “What in your opinion is the scope and cause of this problem?”
    • “What actions do you think might solve this problem?”
    • “How are we making the problem worse right now?”
    • “What budget and/or investment do you think we need to take to address this problem?”
    • “What happens if we do nothing?”
    • “Do you think we are capable of solving this problem with our current team and capacity?”
  • Team members of the team experiencing the problem
    • Stoplight rating: RED
    • Questions I would ask:
      • “What in your opinion is the scope and cause of this problem?”
      • “What actions do you think might solve this problem?”
      • “How are we making the problem worse right now?”
      • “What happens if we do nothing?”
      • “Do you think we are capable of solving this problem with our current team and capacity?”
    • Customers who are impacted by the problem in the past (if applicable)
      • Stoplight rating: RED
      • Questions I would ask:
        • “We’re looking at situation X. Upon review, my team identified that your organization experienced this situation previously. Here are the details as I understand them.”
        • “Do I have the details correctly around the situation?”
        • “This is our proposed action plan; do you feel that if these actions were taken the negative outcome would have been avoided?”
        • “Are there any other items or actions you would want to have taken by our team in addition to the plan I detailed?”
        • “How would you prefer I follow up with you on this item?”
      • Team leaders of teams NOT experiencing the problem directly
        • Stoplight rating: Yellow
        • Questions I would ask:
          • “We’re looking at situation X. Upon review, the team identified that customers X, Y, and Z experienced this situation previously. Here are the details as I understand them.”
          • “Do I have the details correctly around the situation?”
          • “This is our proposed action plan; do you feel that if these actions were taken the negative outcome would have been avoided?”
          • “Are there any other items or actions you would want to have taken by our team in addition to the plan I detailed?”
          • “What is the impact of the problem on your team?”
          • “How important is it that we solve this problem?”
        • My executive team / senior leadership
          • Stoplight rating: Yellow
          • Questions I would ask:
            • “We’re looking at situation X. Upon review, the team identified that customers X, Y, and Z experienced this situation previously. Here are the details as I understand them.”
            • “Do I have the details correctly around the situation?”
            • “This is our proposed action plan; do you feel that if these actions were taken the negative outcome would have been avoided?”
            • “Are there any other items or actions you would want to have taken by our team in addition to the plan I detailed?”
          • Peers in the industry (Noncompetitive [geographically different] similar organizations to our company)
            • Stoplight rating: Green
            • Questions I would ask:
              • “We’re working on solving the following situation at our organization. Here are some details to scope that situation out. Has your team experienced this situation before?”
              • “If yes, have you solved for it, and how?”
              • “If no, how have you avoided this situation?”
              • “Here is our action plan, what gaps in our action plan do you see?”

 

If you’re struggling to create a problem solving checklist or get your team onboard with the need to do so, Richardson & Richardson can help. Check out our case studies for stories of organizations that we’ve assisted with similar issues and download our white papers for deep dives on tools you can use in your organization. If you’re wondering where to start, book a complimentary session with one of the Richardsons today to come up with a plan on how to move forward.

Always Forward,

Ian Richardson