The Model I am looking at today is from “Creative Solution Finding: The triumph of Breakthrough Thinking over Conventional Problem Solving” by Gerald Nadler, Ph.D. and Shozo Hibino, Ph.D. I used a lot of these concepts as I laid the initial capability analysis input to Microsoft’s Business Architecture offering. The concepts support rapid development of a strategically-aligned and situation-specific solution road-map. The focus on solution context and including people in the design also encourages adoption by the end users. I believe the application of these concepts were instrumental in several successful transformations I have led.
Creative Solution Finding
There are seven principles in the model. These principles build on and support one another. Like the other models, none are complicated – but all are difficult to apply. In this case, you are stretched to think in some new directions. First, thinking about purposes in the context of the system. Secondly, thinking about creating solutions and not on studying problems.
Uniqueness: Every problem is unique. You can’t just copy a solution from somewhere else. Take time to understand the context of the solution.
Purposes: Always and continually ask the purpose of solving the problem. Expand the purpose question as far as possible. Focusing on purposes within purposes will high light the uniqueness of the problem.
Solution-after-next: Find solutions today that achieve the focus purpose, based on what might be the solution after next. Working backwards from some ideal target solution can stimulate innovation and high-light larger purposes.
Systems: Understand the elements and dimensions that comprise a solution so you can determine in advance the complexities you must address and the actions you must take in implementation.
Limited Information Collection: Before gathering and analyzing extensive data determine what will be achieved from the data. “What do we need to know to accomplish our purpose” is a powerful question to focus data collection on the solution. The goal is not to become an expert on the problem, but to study the solution.
People Design: Let everyone affected by the solution to take part in the development. People are interested in exploring purposes and solutions-after-next. The people involved will also make sure the system is addressed and the critical details are attended to.
Betterment Timeline: As you are building today’s solution, build in and monitor a program of continual change. A sequence of purpose-directed solutions and knowledge of the solution-after-next are bridges to successful adoption and a better future.
Creative Solution Finding and Enterprise Agile
This model is interesting because it gives guidance on how to create strategically-aligned situation-specific solutions. This is very relevant to implementing Agile – whether in a small team or at any order of scaling. Combined, these principles provide some guidance for leading a company toward Big Agile.
