Top 5 Ways to Solve Business Problems Effectively

Your ability to solve problems can make or break your business . If you’re consistently slow to react and make poor decisions, this can put...

Your ability to solve problems can make or break your business. If you’re consistently slow to react and make poor decisions, this can put your business in danger, but if you can be an effective problem solver then you can see your business soar.

Half the battle with becoming a good problem solver is developing an effective way to approach the problems you face. You can’t hope to solve a problem if you don’t properly understand the problem in the first place, and even if you understand the problem, it’s hard to find a solution if you don’t have the right data.

A great way to approach your business problems is by using the DMAIC model to make sure you’re working through things in a logical and effective manner.

Top Five Ways to Solve Business Problems Effectively

• Define
• Measure
• Analyze
• Improve
• Control

1. Define

The first step in solving problems through the DMAIC model is defining the problem. When we’re faced with a problem, it’s tempting to jump in and try to come up with a solution straight away, but first, you need to understand the problem in detail.

Sit down with your team and brainstorm the problem until you understand it in more detail and are confident it’s a problem that seriously needs fixing.

2. Measure

Once you’ve agreed on what your problem is and that it is a problem that needs solving then is the time to start collecting and looking at the data that is pertinent to your problem.

The higher the quality of data you can obtain, the easier your job will be when it comes to analyzing that data. Make sure you have everything that you need to make the best decision possible.

3. Analyze

When you’ve defined the problem and collected the data, you need to analyze it so that you can begin to figure out what the root cause is.

Don't jump to the first conclusion that comes to mind. Get a team together and brainstorm all the root causes you can think of. Use the data to eliminate these root causes as you go, until you’re left with the main causes of your problem.

4. Improve

Now that you’ve discovered the root cause of your problems, you can begin to implement solutions. Often, people are too quick to jump to solutions before they understand the problem, but when you’re equipped with all the information you can make better decisions.

Continue to use the data to inform your decisions and help you to make the best decisions when it comes to solutions.

5. Control

When you implement your solutions, you want to be sure that they are going to last. You don’t just want a temporary fix to your problems; you want a permanent fix.

In order to ensure you are in control of the process, you should have a plan to continue measuring your success and a response plan if your solutions don’t work. Not every solution you’re going to come up with is going to work, but if you’re ready to tweak those solutions when needed, you’re going to increase your chances of business success.