PROJECT MANAGEMENT

PROBLEM
SOLVING AND
DECISION
MAKING
PROCESS
MARIA TANSKI-PHILIPS

Submitted by:
VIZCONDE, JOYCE RACHELLE R.
AR52FC1
Submitted to:
AR. ROLANDO PINANGAT
Problem Solving
& Decision
Making Process
Five Steps:

1. Analyze the problem

2. Gather information
3. Brainstorm solutions
4. Weigh pros and cons
5. Decide on a solution
Analyze the problem
Before you can fix an issue and use decision-
making skills, take a look at the problem at hand.
Identify and analyze your problem. Figure out
where the problem stems from and go from there.
Consider seeking others’ perspectives to get a
different outlook. Learn the ins and outs of the issue
and go beyond the surface. Dig deep to learn why you
are experiencing a problem and what you can do to
resolve it. Ask yourself questions like, When did this
problem start?  Did the issue create additional
problems? Determine whether or not the problem
needs immediate action. How urgent is the issue?
How long will it take to fix the problem? The severity
of the issue determines how quickly you respond and
what steps you must take.

Gather information
After you determine and analyze the intensity
of the problem, gather supporting information.
Review documentation to support your thoughts.
Some information you can gather includes financial
statements, marketing metrics, and calculations,
such as customer acquisition cost. Depending on the
issue, the type of information you gather may vary.
Think about what reports to use to further analyze
the problem and back up your claims.

Brainstorm solutions
You can’t expect to come up with a solution to
your problem if you don’t brainstorm solutions. Set
aside time to think of solutions to your issue.
Consider holding a workshop where you can discuss
problems in your business with other workers. That
way, you can receive feedback from multiple people.
And, employees can bounce ideas off one another.
 Depending on the number of problems you
have in your business, you may need to consult your
employees. Set aside time for regular meetings until
you determine a solution. Don’t be afraid to ask
others for their input. The more ideas you have, the
more likely you can find a viable solution to your
problem. Think back to previous problems you had in
your business. Were they similar to the current
issue? If so, how did you resolve the other problems?
When generating solutions, think outside of the box.
The solutions you and your team use don’t have to be
the same methods you have used in the past.

Weigh pros and cons

One main component of effective problem-
solving and decision-making is weighing your pros
and cons before making any decisions.
When problem-solving, think about different
techniques you can use to review advantages and
disadvantages. For example, you might create
a  SWOT analysis  to determine your business’s
strengths and weaknesses.
Jot the pros and cons of each solution down
on a notepad or use a spreadsheet to organize the
advantages and disadvantages. Writing pros and cons
down helps you visualize which option may be most
beneficial to your business.
Consider giving each solution a score based
on the number of pros and cons they receive. List
your solutions by point value to rank which option
might be the best route. Keep in mind you don’t
necessarily have to choose the option with the
highest ranking.
Once you create your list of pros and cons
for each solution, compare your options. Don’t rush
through the process. Take time to consider all of your
options to ensure you select the best one for your
business’s problem.
Decide on a solution
After evaluating all possible solutions, it’s time
to make a decision.

When making a decision, consider a few things such

as:

a. Amount of risk
b. Possible outcomes (short- and long-term)
c. Negative side effects (e.g., other problems)
d. Likeliness of success

After you complete the problem-solving and

decision-making process, implement your solution.
Be sure to track your solution’s results. Did the
solution fix your problem? If the outcome is not what
you expected, consider switching to another solution
instead.