How to Solve Problems the Easy Way

As the owner of your own business you deal with prob­lems on an almost daily basis. How problem solving is approached can dramatically affect the growth of your business. Although you find solutions to your problems, many businessmen and women are not really skilled in the methods of problem solving, and when solutions fail, they fault themselves for misjudgment. The problem is typically not misjudgment but rather a lack of skill.

This guide instructs you in some techniques of problem solving. Crucial to the success of a business faced with problems is your understanding of just what the problems are, defining them, finding solutions, and selecting the best solutions for the situations. This guide explains the following.

 How to identify a problem.

How to respond to it.

The different techniques and methods used in problem-solving.

How to find alternative solutions.

How to select the best solution for the situation.

Designing a Plan of Action.

How to implement the Plan of Action.

How to assess the success of the solution and the Plan of Action.

What is a problem. A problem is a situation that presents difficulty or perplexity. Problems come in many shapes and sizes. For example, it can be:

1. Something did not work as it should and you don't know how or why.

2. Something you need is unavailable, and something must be found to take its place.

3. Employees are undermining a new program.

4. The market is not buying. What do you do to survive?

5. Customers are complaining. How do you handle their complaints?

Where do problems come from? Problems arise from every facet of human and mechanical functions as well as from nature. Some problems we cause ourselves (e.g., a hasty choice was made and the wrong person was selected for the job); other problems are caused by forces beyond our control (e.g., a warehouse is struck by light­ning and burns down).

Problems are a natural, everyday occurrence of life, and in order to suffer less from the tensions and frustrations they cause, we must learn how to deal with them in a ra­tional, logical fashion.

If we accept the fact that problems will arise on a regular basis, for a variety of reasons, and from a variety of sources, we can:

learn to approach problems from an objective point of view; learn how to anticipate some of them; and prevent some of them from becoming larger problems.

To accomplish this, you need to learn the process of problem solving.

here, we will instruct you in the basic methods of problem-solving. It is a step by step guide which you can easily follow and practice. As you follow this guide, you will eventually develop some strategies of your own that work in concert with the problem-solving process described in this guide.

Keep in mind, though, as you read that this is not a com­prehensive analysis of the art of problem-solving but rather a practical, systematic, and simplified, yet effec­tive, way to approach problems considering the limited time and information most business owners and managers have. In addition, some problems are so complex that they require the additional help of experts in the field, so be prepared to accept the fact that some prob­lems are beyond one person's ability, skill, and desire to succeed.

Identifying The Problem

Before a problem can be solved, you must first recognize that a problem exists. Here is where your approach to problem-solving is crucial. You should not allow the problem to intimidate you. You should approach it ra­tionally and remind yourself that every problem is solvable if it is tackled appropriately.

Fear can block your ability to think clearly, but if you:

1. Follow a workable procedure for finding solutions;

2. Accept the fact that you can't foresee everything;

3. Assume that the solution you select is your best option at the time; and

4. Accept the possibility that things may change and your solution fail;

you will then enter the problem-solving process ration­ally, You should try to view it as an intellectual exercise. Once you recognize that a problem exists, your next step is to identify the problem. First, you need to discover how the problem occurred. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did something go wrong?

2. Did something breakdown?

3. Were there unexpected results or outcome?

4. Is something that once worked no longer working?

Second, you need to know the nature of the problem:

1. Is it people, operational, technical, etc.?

2. Is it with a particular department, product or service, etc.?

3. Is it something tangible or intangible?

4. Is it an external or internal problem?

Third, you need to decide how significant the problem is. Based on the level of significance, you may choose to deal with the problem or not to deal with it. Sometimes what you think is a small problem, when analyzed, proves to be a major problem. The reverse is also true. To determine this, you should ask yourself the following types of questions:

1. Is it disrupting operations?

2. Is it hampering sales?

3. Is it causing conflict among people?

4. Is it an everyday occurrence or is it infrequent?

5. Is it affecting personnel and their productivity?

6. Is it common or unusual?

7. Is it affecting goals, and if yes, which ones?

8. Is it affecting customers, vendors, and any other exter­nal people?

Fourth, you should narrow down the type of problem:

1. Is it basically a problem which occurred in the past and the main concern is to make certain that it doesn't occur again?

2. Is it a problem which currently exists and the main concern is to clear up the situation?

3. Is it a problem which might occur in the future and the basic concern is planning and taking action before the problem arises?

The answer to all of the above questions will help you focus on the true problem. You cannot effectively research the causes of a problem until you have a clear understanding of what the problem is. Sometimes, people spend many hours on what they perceive as a problem only to find out, after seeking the causes, that something else was really the problem.

As Soon as You have Determined what type of business you want to Begin and The investment requirements, you're ready to select a
location. The amount of aggressive companies already in the region should influence your choice of location. Some regions are
overloaded with service stations or particular forms of restaurants. Check on the number of your type of business in Census
figures, the yellow pages, or by checking out the place.

Factors Aside from the potential market, availability of employees And number of competitive companies have to be considered in
choosing a location. For instance, how adequate are utilities - sewer, water, power, gas? Parking facilities? Police and fire
protection? What about home and environmental factors like schools, cultural and community activities for employees? What is the
normal cost of the place in rents and taxes? Check on zoning regulations. Assess the business of the neighborhood business-people,
the aggressiveness of civic associations. In summary, what's the city soul? Such factors should give you a clue to the city or
city's future.

Chambers of Commerce and nearby universities usually have made or Are familiar with local polls which can provide answers to these
questions and the a number of other questions that will occur to you.

Next you have to decide in what part of city to find. If the city is Very small and you are establishing service or retail
business, there'll probably be little choice. Just 1 shopping place is present. Cities have outlying shopping centers in addition
to the central dining area, and stores spring up along principal thoroughfares and neighborhood streets.

Think about the shopping center. It is different from other locations. The shopping center construction is pre-planned as a
merchandising unit. The site was intentionally selected by a developer. On-site parking is a common feature. Customers may drive ,
park and do their buying in comparative speed and safety. Some facilities provide weather protection. Such amenities make the
shopping centre a valuable site.

There are also some limitations you should know about. As a tenant, You become a part of a merchant group and has to pay your pro
rata share of their budget. You must keep store hourslight your windows, and place your signals based on established rules. Many
communities have restrictions on evidence along with the middle management might have additional limitations. What's more, if you
are thinking about a shopping centre for your first shop you could have an additional problem. Developers and owners of shopping
facilities start looking for successful retailers.

The type and Wide Range of merchandise you carry helps determine the Type of purchasing place you select. For instance, clothing
stores, jewelry stores and department stores are more likely to be prosperous in buying districts. On the flip side, grocery
stores, drug stores, filling stations, and bakeries usually do better on main thoroughfares and neighborhood streets beyond the
shopping districts. Some sorts of stores customarily pay a very low rent per square foot, while others pay a high rent. At
the"low" class are furniture, grocery stores and hardware stores. In the"large" are cigar, drug, women's furnishings, and
department stores. There is no hard and fast rule, but it is helpful to see in what kind of area a shop like yours often appears
to flourish.

After determining an area ideal for your type of business, Obtain as many facts as you can about it. Examine the competition. How
many similar businesses can be found nearby? What does their sales volume appear to be? If you are establishing a store or service
trade, how far do people come to trade in the area? Are the traffic patterns positive? If the majority of your clients will
probably be local populations, research the population trends of the area. Is population climbing, static or declining? Are the
people native-born, blended or mostly foreign? Are fresh ethnic groups coming in? Are they predominantly laborers, clerks,
executives or retired men? Are they all ages or mostly retired, middle aged, or young? Judge buying power by assessing average
house rental, typical real estate taxes, number of telephones, number of automobiles and, if the amount is available, per capita
income. Larger shopping facilities have this sort of information available, and will make it accessible to serious potential
tenants.

Zoning ordinances, parking availability, transport facilities And natural barriers - such as hills and bridges - are important
factors in locating any kinds of business. Possible sources for this information are Chambers of Commerce, trade associations,
real estate companies, local newspapers, banks, city officials, neighborhood merchants and personal monitoring. If the Bureau of
the Census has developed census tract information to the particular region in which you're interested you will find this
especially helpful. A census tract is a small, permanently established, geographical area within a big city and its environs. The
Census Bureau provides population and housing characteristics for every tumor. This information can be valuable in measuring your
market or service potential.

Deciding upon the actual site in a area might well be taking what you Can get. Very few buildings or plants will be appropriate
and at precisely the same time, available. If you do have a choice, be sure to weigh the possibilities carefully.

For a production plant, consider the condition and suitability Of the building, transport, parking facilities, and also the type
of lease. For A store or service establishment, check out the closest competition, traffic Leak, parking amenities, street
location, physical facets of the construction, Kind of lease and price, and the rate, price and quality of transportation. Also
Investigate the history of the website. Find answers to such questions as: Has the Building remained empty for any amount of time?
Why? Have various types of Stores occupied it for brief periods? It may have proved unprofitable for them. Websites where many
businesses have failed ought to be avoided. Vacant buildings Do not attract traffic and are generally regarded as poor neighbors,
therefore check on nearby unoccupied buildings.

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