Creative Problem Solving Activities

"Rasoi Ghar is a very popular restaurant in a typical Indian Metro. They offer gourmet cuisine from all parts of the world. Each dish made with optimum authenticity, while keeping in mind the taste of their typical clientele. The restaurant saw mind blowing profits for the first 2 years of operation. However, in the 3rd year, it had a change of management. The impact did not show for 6 months. However, post those 6 months, the restaurant viewed a drop in clientele. Employee attrition was on an all time rise, and profits were on an all time low. No matter what they did, which were typical methods used by all restaurants, their situation did not seem to improve."

What would you say, is the answer to the woes faced by Rasoi Ghar? In my opinion, it is in the way they went about solving the problem. They should have found solutions specific to their business, creatively.

In any business, the key to success of any strategic planning activity, is adequate and appropriate problem solving. Each plan, activity or meeting is going to face some or the other issue. There are bound to be hurdles in the way that lead to disturbance in the ultimate scheme of things. As such there are two very important things to remember, firstly, you need to be prepared for untoward incidences, and secondly, you need to have a proper problem solving mechanism in place.

Let us start off with understanding the meaning of "problem solving activities". These are activities that help solve a problem that may come up at any point of time. These activities may be performed prior to the occurrence of the problem, or post it. Nonetheless, they can help reduce the side-effects of the problem.

To that end, one may use several "problem solving tools". Problem solving tools are the processes that help in widening the scope of imagination and looking for the right answers, by asking the right questions. One of the most effective tools in creative problem solving is "Brainstorming". Brainstorming helps bring forth different solutions, perspectives and aspects of the problem. Sometimes brainstorming leads into seeing the unseen gravity of the problem, as well. Isn't it an important tool? In fact, many believe that any kind of problem solving has to be embarked upon by brainstorming. This helps in viewing and reviewing the problem at all angles possible.

Now, let us see a few creative problem solving methods. As per the Osborne Parne's Creative Problem Solving process, the creative problem solving method would contain six logical steps.

1. Creative problem solving activities.
2. Collecting data about the problem, observing the problem as objectively as possible.
3. Examining the various parts of the problem to isolate the major part, stating the problem in an open - ended way.
4. Generating as many ideas as possible, regarding the problem - brainstorming.
5. Choosing the solution that would be most appropriate, developing and selecting criteria to evaluate the alternative solutions.
6. Creating a plan of action.

The Osborne Parne's method is one of the most popularly followed method in creative problem solving. Nonetheless, let us not forget, if it ought to be creative, you can modify the methods. A management should try to make sure that the solution fits the organization. Even if it means that the methods need to be bent a little bit, legitimately, of course!

Other popularly utilized creative problem solving activity, especially for HR and motivation related problems, are team building activities. Team building activities are essential for any organization to ensure smooth implementation of a plan or a policy. An organization is only as strong, as the team spirit of its employees. So Mr. HR, please keep a certain budget intact for specific team building activities. These activities can be good to implement or try out creative problem solving activities. It could work wonders for brainstorming or any idea finding.

The bottom line is that, any management has to be aware that problems and hurdles are inevitable. The best way to find the most optimum solution is to keep your cool because getting flustered has never helped anybody. So stay calm, breathe and don't forget that thinking in the box can, at times, be like thinking out of the box. Explore each solution and view each angle of the problem. This is where I sign off. All the best!