Productive Problem Solving (Paperback)

Productive Problem Solving - A Guide To Realistic And Constructive Problem Solving - The Way Of The Future By Horst P. Richter, PhD This book describes productive problem-solving as a dynamic process so that all who need to solve problems and accomplish work will benefit. The description of the process, the explanations and the examples contribute to find realistic and constructive solutions that benefit all who are involved. The explanations show how we as experiencing organisms perceive, judge and act to solve internal and external problems, while doing work or performing tasks. The dynamic process applies to work and problems that individuals, groups and societies face in their life, and that business, industry, science and art have to solve. It is an effective tool to solve conflicts between individuals, groups, cultures and societies. It helps to build effective teams and to accelerate consensus. The process can also help to alleviate cultural differences in teams. The dynamic problem-solving process (DPS) comprises: The problem-solving phases that are basic to the phases for projects or work efforts Human energy levels and emotions such as frustration or enthusiasm that accompany the phases Operational modes of the mind that enable perception and judgment Effective group techniques that accelerate consensus A metric that measures the effectiveness of the problem-solving effort and the quality of the delivered product or service By understanding the problem-solving process, and identifying the field forces that drive or restrain it, such as personal attitudes or organizational forces one gains the ability to obtain better solutions in a shorter time. Impulsive and incomplete decisions can be avoided. When properly applied, the dynamic process can save the investment for a project that even good plans for budget and schedule may lose. It can also improve the learning process. Managers in companies who apply the process and its core capabilities will gain in productivity. To implement the dynamic problem-solving process successfully only requires that individuals, managers, leaders and teams decide to understand it, and commit to apply it constructively as the way of the future. Dr. Richter has studied and researched creative problem solving and its applications for more than 30 years. As a Fulbright Scholar he researched the fruitful moment in the human mind at the University of Chicago. Later, he lectured on this subject, and he was fortunate to conduct seminars with project managers, systems analysts and software quality assurance groups in industry. A series of his publications emphasize practical applications. He received several merit awards and applied DPS to engineering problems and particularly to the quality assurance of software systems in a book. He has numerous publications in project management, problem solving, software quality assurance, applied mathematics and engineering. The Engineering Advancement Association of Japan translated his approach to solving problems.