Problem Solving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problem Solving - Essay Example This is because there is no definite solution to a problem as all solutions lead to development of new problems and solutions. Problem solving techniques are on-going processes needed for the survival of an organisation. Halpern (2002) explains that problem solving techniques should be able to find and formulate the problem that affects the progress of an organisation, implement a decision, audit the results obtained from the decision made and review the obtained results to determine if they are appropriate. More effort, energy, time and money should be spent on the prior stages of problem solving techniques rather than on the later stages. However, most executives ignore this fact as they aim at acting quickly and decisively thereby creating a type III error (working on the wrong problem) (Paradies & Unger, 2002). Therefore, this report will discuss problems that curb the development of organisations and appropriate problem solving techniques that are used to eliminate this paradigm. This report will also analyse features of these problem solving techniques and the issues faced while applying them to the problems. Most organisations especially new business enterprises are faced with strategic planning problems. Such organisations are unable to appropriately define the strategy and direction of their firms. They are unable to formulate efficient decisions in distribution of the organisational resources such as capital and labour, a fact that affects their capability to strive in the stiff market competition (Bradford & Duncan, 2000). Most researches, studies and surveys that have been conducted show that most successful organisations implement the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis into the culture of the organisation to strategically plan for the operations, decision making and resource distribution tactics. According to Lorenzen (2006), SWOT analysis comprises of the identification of organisation's objectives to determine internal and external factors which may enable or prevent the achievement of these objectives. The SWOT analysis was formulated by Albert Humphrey with the aim of helping business ventures to effectively identify areas for development by matching the strengths of the organisations to available opportunities and the weaknesses to potential threats that the organisation may face. This enabled organisations to attain competitive advantages over their counterpart business enterprises. In other words the SWOT analysis enables organisations to detect the threats and weaknesses of the organisation and convert them to strengths and opportunities that the organisation can utilise to increase its performance. Also organisations are able to effectively overcome these threats and weaknesses thereby attaining appropriate market control due to implementation of strategic plans into the culture of the organisation (Tracy, 2000). The internal factors comprise of the strengths and weaknesses that determine the accomplishment of objectives of an organisation for example the 4Ps, manufacturing capabilities and personnel among others. On the other hand the external factors comprise of opportunities and threats that an organisation faces such as technological changes, socio-cultural changes and the competitive position of the