Problem Solving and Decision Making Process - Essay Example

Introduction Decision making process is an important and integral part of any business. The reason for this is because the success a business depends on the correct decision making process. As such, there are many theoretical frameworks that have been developed in order to address this problem. These approaches adapt different means of accomplishing the feat with more positive results. In this case, an analysis of two approaches is discussed in-depth. In order to achieve this, a description of each approach, brainstorming and six thinking hats is done. A comparison of these two approaches in light of their application in the real business environment is also done. This helps in increasing understanding of the fundamental principles of each of these two selected approaches. An example of a business case is also provided in order to enhance understanding of each of these two approaches and their relevance in the business environment. Problem solving process The two problem solving process selected in this case is brainstorming and six thinking hats. These two approaches are important in decision making process as they contribute immensely to decision making process in different scenarios. Brainstorming was first published in 1953 by Alex Osborn, since then, brainstorming has been developed through research and practice Cory, 2013). Brainstorming is considered a relaxed informal approach to a problem solving process with considers lateral thinking process. It encourages people to develop ideas that might seem impractical a times. These ideas can be crafted into original ideas which provide solutions to specific problems while others will open up for more ideas which can be used to solve other problems. As a result it is important for a brainstorming session to be free of criticism and rewarding ideas (Wilson, 2013). A brainstorming session is an opportunity to open up possibilities and break them down in order to effectively deal with assumptions. Notably, brainstorming session can be either in a group or in an individual level. A group brainstorming session has the advantage of getting more ideas from more people while an individual session has the advantage of less influence of bias and reluctance to give personal opinion. In a company setting, brainstorming session is normally in a group, most companies strategies are as a result of a brainstorming session within the management session (Gallagher, 2008). As a result brainstorming finds use in both personal and group level. On the other hand, six thinking hats is a unique problem solving technique which involves distinct approaches of thinking normally explained in terms of colors called the “thinking hats”. The first thinking hat is the white hat (De Bono, 2009). White hat emphasizes on the available information or data to deliberate on a problem. As such historical data is important at this stage because it provides the past trends of issues which is important in predicting the possible future trend. The second hat is the red hat, the red hat emphasizes on using gut feeling and intuition to analyze how people react and think emotionally (Leornard, 2002). The red hat also focuses on comprehending people who do not fully appreciate or understand your viewpoint or reasoning. The third thinking hat is the black hat, the black hat thinking focuses on the weak points of the plan or decision making process, and it considers how the plan might fail to work as anticipated by revealing the weak points. The black hat thinking is therefore a critical process of the six thinking hat because it helps in the creation of a contingency plan to be adopted in the event that the original plan fails to materialize. As such, this thinking process makes the plan more resilient because the risks will be catered for. The fourth thinking hat is the yellow thinking hat, the yellow thinking hat is important because it helps in maintaining a positive thinking, it encourages optimistic mindset and consequently helping in keeping the going despite the challenges encountered in the process (De Bono, 2009). This thinking style focuses on the benefits and value of the decision. The fifth thinking hat is the green hat, the green hat encourages creativity on the problem solving process (Jensen & Nickelsen, 2008). The idea is not criticized at this stage. The last thinking hat is the blue thinking hat which consist the process control, this has is normally worn by people chairing meetings. This thinking styles normally falls back to other thinking styles such as green hat when there is need to integrate creativity and black hat when there is need to integrate contingency plan. As evident, these two problem solving are essential in a contemporary business environment. They help in making the right decision at different stages. They can be used to solve a common problem in the business environment. As an example, when a company needs to expand offices as a result of decreasing office space, there are some variables to be considered. The first variable will be the availability of building space and at what price and the second option is the current trend in office expansion as well as the economic stability of the country. These variables are imperative in making any decision regarding building or renting a new office. In order to establish the best option, either of these problem solving approaches can be used. Brainstorming can be used in the following manner. Since it is a business decision making process, a committee of the company will meet and hence creation what is known as a group brainstorming session. The session can be successful of the following considerations are taken into account (Wilson & Jan, 2012). The first important step as aforementioned is keeping an open mind to the decision making process. It is important for the managers to maintain an open mind when approaching the decision making table. This atmosphere will provide room for creative ideas and the best options available for exploitation. Notably, the brainstorming session will contemplate on the options available and the merit and demerit of these options, these will form a basis for further evaluation of the options available. The brainstorming session can yield the most viable approach to use (Siegel, 2014). The first conclusion that can be obtained is building new office blocks, occupy some and rent some to other businesses. This will be a good idea in the sense that the business will be gaining as well as using the premises. In the event that the offices are not marketable because of other available options, the best option will be to dispose-off some partitions and occupy some, the underlying assumption in this case is that the economy will not experience a recession in the near future. On the other hand, the committee can decide to rent out new apartments in order to avoid uncertainties that came with spending millions of dollars in building new office blocks. On the other hand, the same decision process can be made through the six thinking hats decision making process. In order to accomplish this, the committee can consider the six hats in the process, the first step which is enshrined in the white hats is using available data, for this case, the cost of building an office block will be considered in terms of the real cost, the expected income from the office and the economic stability of the country as well as the possibilities of a recession. The committee can decide that while it is costly to construct new office blocks, the expected rate of returns and the duration of the project is worth undertaking. The second hat, the red hat at this level will put into account the imaginations of other people in the light of their perception about the idea and the implementation. This will help in initiating the next course of action. The third hat, which is the black hat works towards allowing contingency plan through a thorough analysis of the weaknesses in order to make the plan more resilient (Zwaan, 2006). The contingency plan in this case is the purchase of existing office blocks and later rent them out or resell them in the event that the expected income is not achieved, the other option is renting offices to be used and avoid the risk of constructing new office blocks amidst uncertain economic condition. The yellow hat will help in encouraging positive thinking towards the process, which is by focusing on the positives of the project instead of the negatives. The yellow hat will help in propelling actions towards establishment of the office blocks as soon as possible. The green hat will encourage creative measures of starting the office block constructions, the new technologies that can help in reducing the cost of construction will be taken into account in this case. As the last, stage, the blue hat will establish the process control of starting the project and consider other options available by reverting back to the green hat or the black hat thinking process. As such, this decision making process will be achieved (Scannell, & Mulvilhill, 2012). As evident these problem solving strategies, brainstorming and six hat thinking process encourages solution of the same process using different approaches. The result of this is the same. Nonetheless, there are situations that are more relevant to one approach as compared to other. The magnitude and the nature of the problem can necessitate one of these approaches. In a contemporary business environment, a decision making process that involves only a small business case such as purchasing of a simple business equipment like a router or any other IT resource may require the decision making of a single person, an IT manager in this case. As such, because of the less complexity of the problem as well as the financial input to be used, individual brainstorming can be used to make the decision on the type of router, the features as well as the future expansion consideration. This decision making process is simple in nature and as such it does on require the entire six hats of the six thinking hats. On the contrary when a decision involving a large amount of money is to be made, a more complex approach is required, in this case the six thinking hats will be important as well as a more complex group brainstorming process. The six thinking hats will help in covering every aspect (Scannell, & Mulvilhill, 2012). As an example, a construction of a road to open up to a farm for easy transportation will require a more complex decision making because of the amount of money to be spent in the process. The six thinking hats will help in analyzing the past information, deliberation of other peoples thinking and emotional attachment, the weaknesses of the investment and the available contingency plan, the need to maintain positive approach, ensuring creativity in the process and how the entire project will be controlled. All these variables are enshrined in the six thinking hats respectively. Notably, a complex group brainstorming decision making process can be used at this stage, the session will include deliberation of the estimated budget, the benefits of the construction process, sources of funds as well as other variables that may have been underestimated (Scannell, & Mulvilhill, 2012). The result of the brainstorming session will provide the best possible approach to be used in undertaking of the project to its completion. Conclusion As discussed in this analysis, the two problem solving approaches, brainstorming and six thinking hats provide useful insight into everyday business challenges. Brainstorming involves an open minded decision making either in an individual level or in a group. On the other hand the six thinking hats is an approach calls for six different stages known as the thinking hats which are represented in terms of colors, white, red, black, yellow green and blue. Each of these hats represent a unique decision making process. As pointed out in this case, these approaches find their relevance in the business environment in many ways. Notably, there are fundamental similarities between these approaches and they can be used to solve the same business problem as highlighted in this case. Nonetheless, a six thinking hats is more useful in a complex decision making process which has a huge financial implication. On the other hand brainstorming session is mostly applicable in both complex as well as simple decision making process as highlighted in this case. References Cory, R.T.(2013). Brainstorming: Techniques for New Ideas. New York, NY: iUniverse De Bono, E. (2009). Six Thinking Hats (RIE).Michigan: Penguin Group. Gallagher, S.(2008). Brainstorming: Views and Interviews on the Mind. New York, NY: Imprint Academic. Jensen, E., & Nickelsen, L. (2008). Deeper Learning: 7 Powerful Strategies for In-Depth and Longer-Lasting Learning. London: Corwin Press. Leornard, D.C. (2002). Learning Theories, A to Z. Michigan: Greenwood Publishing Group. Scannell, M., & Mulvilhill, M. (2012). Big Book of Brainstorming Games: Quick, Effective Activities that Encourage Out-of-the-Box Thinking, Improve Collaboration, and Spark Great Ideas!. New York,NY: McGraw Hill Professional. Siegel, D.J.(2014). Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain. New York, NY: Penguin Group US. Wilson, C. (2013). Brainstorming and Beyond: A User-Centered Design Method. New Jersey, NJ: Newnes. Wilson, J., & Jan L.W.(2012). Smart Thinking: A Programme for Developing Thinking Skills in 7 to 12 Year Olds. New York, NY: Routledge. Zwaan, S.(2006). Q Tasks. New York, Pembroke Publishers Limited. Read More