CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Sally Hawksmore

Don't get stuck: Find a solution

Today, change managers are using some techniques for solving problems that are surprisingly simple. These methods are turning out to be more important as companies find that quick problem solving is the key to successful change.

Unfortunately many managers approach problem solving at work like a mathematical puzzle. They think that they just have to work out the one right answer and everything will be fine. Even worse, they think that every idea must be examined andrejected if it has any weakness.tu

Solucin Creativa de Problemas sally Hawksmore No te quedes: Buscar una solucin Hoy en da, son gestores del cambio usando algunas tcnicaspara resolver problemas que son sorprendentemente simples.Estos mtodos estn resultando ser ms importante que las empresas encuentran que el problema de rpida solucin es la clave para un cambio exitoso. Lamentablemente muchos gerentes enfoque de resolucin de problemas en el trabajo como un rompecabezas matemtico.Ellos piensan que slo hay que encontrar la

respuesta correcta yque todo estar bien. Lo que es peor, piensan que toda ideadebe ser examinada andrejected si tiene cualquier debilidad.
A typical conversation would run as follows:

Our two computer systems are not compatible, says the manager of one department that is about to merge with another. Why not insist that both departments use one of the existing systems? asks one of his colleagues.

Yes, but think of the cost of replacing all that equipment says a second.

It'll never work, says a third. We can't possibly ask people to do it, says the manager. And the idea dies.

Una conversacin tpica sera la siguiente: "Nuestros dos sistemas informticos no son compatibles", dice el gerente de un departamento que est a punto de fusionarse con otra. "Por qu no insistir en que tanto los departamentos deutilizar uno de los sistemas existentes?", Pregunta uno de sus colegas. -S, pero pensar en el costo de reemplazar todo lo que el equipo", dice un segundo. "Nunca funcionar", dice un tercero. "De ninguna manera podemos pedirle a la gente para hacerlo", dice el director. Y la idea de morir.

Yes, and...
Yes, but..., It'll never work and We can't do that, are the three most common idea killers. One way of encouraging more creative thought is to only allow Yes and. Then the example above may go like this:

Why not insist that both companies use one of the existing systems? asks colleague number one. Yes, and we could use our spares instead of buying all new equipment, says number two. Yes, and to save costs our people could train their people, says number three. OK, we may have something here, says the manager. And an idea has survived.

S, y ... -S, pero ...', 'Nunca funcionar "y" No podemos hacer eso ", son los tres asesinos idea ms comn. Una manera de fomentar laidea ms creativa es para que slo permita 'S y'. A continuacin, el ejemplo de arriba puede ser la siguiente: Por qu no insistir en que ambas empresas utilizan uno de los sistemas existentes? Pregunta el compaero una. -S, ypodemos usar nuestros repuestos en vez de comprar todos los equipos nuevos ", dice el segundo. -S, y para ahorrar costes a nuestro pueblo podra entrenar a su gente ", dice el nmero tres.'OK, puede que tengamos algo aqu ", dice el director. Y la ideaha sobrevivido.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if...

A surprisingly powerful method is to pose an ideal solution. Try saying, Wouldn't it be wonderful if... In our example:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the two computer systems could talk to each other just like that? says the manager. With some sort of interface between them? says number one. Hey, I think I've heard of this really smart company who specialize in that sort of thing, says number two. And another idea is born.

No sera maravilloso si ... Un mtodo es sorprendentemente potente para plantear una solucin ideal. Trate de decir, 'No sera maravilloso si ... "En nuestro ejemplo: "No sera maravilloso si los dos sistemas informticos puedenhablar unos con otros as como as?", Dice el gerente. "Con una especie de interfaz entre ellos?", Dice un nmero. "Hey, creo que he odo hablar de esta compaa muy inteligente que se especializan en ese tipo de cosas", dice el nmero dos. Y otraidea que nace.

What's stopping us?

Another useful technique is just to ask yourself: What's stopping us from doing this? Sometimes the answer is surprising.

A production line manager was told that the night staff could not work the new system he had suggested. He wanted them to sign their names on a quality control sheet. The day staff had all agreed without a problem. Instead of forgetting the idea he asked what was stopping them. The stationery store is locked at night, so we can't get pens for all of us, he was told. A new key was cut, given to the supervisor, and the new system worked perfectly.

Qu nos detiene? Otra tcnica til es preguntarse: Qu nos impide hacerlo? A veces la respuesta es sorprendente. Un gerente de lnea de produccin se le dijo que el personal de noche no poda trabajar el nuevo sistema que l haba sugerido.l quera que firmar sus nombres en una hoja de control de calidad. El personal de da haba aceptado todo sin problema.En lugar de olvidarse de la idea que le pregunt lo que estabaparando. "La papelera es cerrado por la noche, por lo que no puede buscar un bolgrafo para todos nosotros", le dijo. Una nueva clave se redujo, debido a que el supervisor, y el nuevo sistema funcion a la perfeccin.

What does that do for you?

Sometimes we think we know the solution, but it may not work. One way to find another possibility is to ask what does that do for us?

All I want is my old job back said the worker again. The factory had closed, so this was not possible. What would that do for you? asked the counselor. It would give me back my dignity, he answered. If you could train for a new skill, what else would give you dignity? asked the counselor. Well, I suppose I've always liked the idea of driving big lorries, the worker said. And a new possibility had opened for him.

Qu es lo que haga por ti? A veces creemos que sabemos la solucin, pero puede que no funcione. Una forma de encontrar otra posibilidad es pedir 'quhacer por nosotros? " "Todo lo que quiero es mi antiguo trabajo", dijo el trabajador de nuevo. La fbrica haba

cerrado, as que esto no era posible."Qu hara eso para usted ', se pregunt el consejero. "Me dara la espalda de mi dignidad, me contest. "Si se pudieraentrenar para una nueva habilidad, qu ms le pondras a la dignidad ', se pregunt el consejero. "Bueno, supongo quesiempre me ha gustado la idea de conducir grandes camiones", dijo el trabajador. Y una nueva posibilidad se haba abierto para l.
Source: New English Digest

GLOSSARY
don't get stuck: don't bog down, don't be unable to move further (no te atasques, no quedes inmovilizado/a) are turning out to be: are proving to be(estn resultando) find: realize (reconocen, se dan cuenta) a mathematical puzzle: a mathematical problem that is said to have a correct solution(un acertijo matemtico) to work out: to come up with, to solve (que acertar o resolver) rejected: disapproved, bounced (rechazada, reprobada) weakness: flaw or weak point (debilidad, punto flojo) as follows: like this (de este modo) about to merge: close to mix or to combine(a punto de mezclar) dies: disappears (desaparece, se diluye) idea killers: idea destroyers (destructores de ideas) encouraging: contributing to the progress or growth of (alentar) spares: extra components of a machine(componentes, partes) train: teach (entrenar) survived: continued to live (sobrevivido) to pose: to introduce (plantear, presentar) sort of thing: type of product (tipo de cosas) is born: has come up (ha nacido, ha surgido) what's stopping us from?: what is preventing us from? (qu nos impide?) was told: was reported or informed (fue informado de) night staff: night employees (personal nocturno) agreed: accepted (aceptado) locked: closed with a key (cerrada bajo llave) a new key was cut: a key copy was made (se hizo copia de la llave) my old job back: that they give me my old job back (que me devuelvan mi antiguo puesto) conselor: someome who gives advice about problems (asesor, consejero) skill: an ability that has been acquired by training(habilidad, destreza) big lorries: large trucks (camiones grandes)