Problem Solving
A Hands-On Exploratorium by Peter de Jager

Date: November 12, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Definition

Initial State
- What is the problem? (not the same question as “What is a ‘Problem’?”
- The issue of a ‘single’ description.
- Who gets to define the problem?
- Are we solving ‘Symptoms’ or removing ‘Root Causes’?

Givens (resources)
- Analysis vs. Data Gathering
- The Pros and Cons of Labels
- Decomposition

Operators
- What can you do to change the initial state?

Final Goal
- The ‘solution’.
- The issue of a ‘single’ solution.

Assumptions Pitfalls and Opportunities & and how to avoid one, and capture the other.

The Power of Lists
PESTLE
SWOT
ToDo

Problem Ownership
Who owns this problem… and why?

Perspectives and Thinking outside the Box
- Getting Stuck
- Forcing a Reframing – Act 1
- The issue of Context

Various techniques and strategies
- Intuition
- Making Single Changes
– monitor and track
- Enlisting the Subconscious
– Reality based strategies
- Working backwards
- Chunking
– sub-goals
- Forcing a Reframing – Act 2
- Forced Metaphors
- Random Access

Self Reflection – the path to Problem Solving progress

Problem Solving Philosophy

About the Facilitator

For starters, Peter de Jager has spoken professionally since 1993 and has spoken in 37 countries. He’s published articles in the NY Times, The Washington Post and Scientific American - as well as hundreds of other publications. He’s given more than 2,000 media interviews including appearances on DateLine, Nightline and Crossfire. In addition, the FT of London, the NY Times, Fortune Magazine and The National Post as well as dozens of lesser media channels saw fit to profile him in their publications. He’s spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland - as well as The World Bank and the Bank for International Settlements. In addition to these large venues, he’s also spoken for IBM, LOMA and the CIA - and hundreds of other associations, clients and governmentsin everything from small strategic planning workshops to multi-thousand seat venues.

Venue: Delta Hotel
5444 Dixie Road,
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2L2
( Details | Map )

Reservation: !!RSVP ONLY!!

Members preference over non-members!
Friends & colleagues are very welcome!

$20 Members of SME and affiliated Organizations
$30 Non-members
$10 SME Student members and affiliated institutions