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From Cartoonbank.com
From Cartoonbank.com
From Cartoonbank.com
How can we
increase the
capacity of the
lot?
Expending its
dimensions
How can we
increase the
capacity of the
lot?
Putting more
cars in the
current space
Building a new
Expending its floor
dimensions
How can we Using a new parcel
increase the
capacity of the
lot?
Putting more
cars in the
current space
Building a new
Expending its floor
dimensions
How can we Using a new parcel
increase the
capacity of the
Reducing the size of
lot?
each space
Putting more
cars in the
current space Reducing the area not
dedicated to parking
How can we
reduce the
number of cars?
? ?
? ? ?
? ?
? ? ? ?
?
?
?
?
✔ Key question ✘
Situation:
C
O The non controversial, relevant information about the problem.
N ONLY the relevant information
T
E Complication:
X
T The unique need for change (potentially illustrated by some of its
symptoms/consequences)
Situation:
C The key issue: the non controversial, relevant information about the
O
N problem. ONLY the relevant information
T
E
X Complication:
T The unique need for change (potentially illustrated by some of its
symptoms/consequences)
Are MECE
Issue trees
Are perspicacious
How can we
increase our
profitability
How can we
➚ our
revenues?
How can we
increase our
profitability
How can we
➘ our
costs?
➚ prices?
How can we
➚ our
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we
increase our
profitability
How can we
➘ our
costs?
➚ prices?
How can we
➚ our
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we
increase our
profitability
Raw materials
costs?
How can we
➘ our Employee
costs? costs?
Other costs?
Of all
products?
➚ prices?
Of only specific
How can we products?
➚ our
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we
increase our
profitability
Raw materials
costs?
How can we
➘ our Employee
costs? costs?
Other costs?
Of all
products?
➚ prices?
Of only specific
How can we products?
➚ our
➚ publicity?
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we ➚ offers?
increase our
profitability
Raw materials
costs?
How can we
➘ our Employee
costs? costs?
Other costs?
Of all
products?
➚ prices?
Of only specific
How can we products?
➚ our
➚ publicity?
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we ➚ offers?
increase our
profitability
➘ the quantity
of raw
Raw materials materials?
costs?
Other costs?
Of all
products?
➚ prices?
Of only specific
How can we products?
➚ our
➚ publicity?
revenues?
➚ volume?
How can we ➚ offers?
increase our
profitability For all products
➘ the quantity
of raw
Raw materials Only for specific
materials?
costs? products
Switching suppliers
How can we Get cheaper
➘ our Employee raw
costs? costs? materials? Negotiating better
Other costs?
Because they
Because didn’t like it
they tried it
but don’t
want to take
another Because they
think they don’t
need it
How can we
How can we increase revenue?
increase
profitability? How can we
reduce costs?
✔
Costos?
✔
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 21 :41
Costos?
Doesn’t work because
Because they
didn’t like it
Because they
tried it but
don’t want to
take another Because they think
they don’t need it
✘
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 23 :41
1
Adding the info
Adding the info Own personnel
of the new
of the new
personnel
personnel Outsourced personnel
✘ ✔
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 23 :41
✘
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 24 :41
A B
C
A B A B
D D C
MECE?
A B
C
A B A B
D D C
A B
C
A B A B
D D C
- In a car, M’am
Cause
Cause
Identify alternative
solutions for the problem Problem Action
Action
Cause
Identify alternative
solutions for the problem Problem Action
Action
1. Electing a
means of
transportation
2. Buying a
How can I go ticket
from NYC to
London?
3. Going to
the port/
airport
4. Boarding
Using a plane
Using a helicopter
1. Electing a Flying
means of Using a balloon
transportation
Using a rocket
2. Buying a How can I go
How can I go ticket from NYC to
from NYC to London? With a raft
Traveling on
London?
the surface
3. Going to
the port/ Swimming
airport Traveling
by sea
4. Boarding
✘ Using a
submarine ✔
Cartoons are from Cartoonbank.com
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 28 :41
How can we
improve the
elaboration of
invoices?
How can we
improve the
elaboration of
✔
invoices?
How can we
improve the
elaboration of
✔
invoices?
How do we know if our
employees understand the
specifications?
✘
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 29 :41
How can we
improve the
elaboration of
✔
invoices?
How do we know if our How do we ensure that our
employees understand the employees understand the
specifications? specifications
✘ ✔
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 29 :41
✘ ✔
the sales sale experience
✘ ✔
the sales sale experience
✘ ✔
the sales sale experience
How do we
increase
revenues?
Increasing volumes
✘
Increasing volumes
✘
Increasing prices
Increasing revenues
with our current
How do we services
increase Increasing volumes
revenues?
Creative
Obvious Absurd
Difficulty of implementation
From Cartoonbank.com
Ensure that for each division in your tree, you can find a name for the group of
sub-issues you are creating
How do we
reduce our
costs?
Direct
Reducing
fixed costs
Indirect
Classifying by
cost type ✔
Ensure that for each division in your tree, you can find a name for the group of
sub-issues you are creating
How do we
Reducing marketing
reduce our
costs
costs?
Direct Reducing
Reducing administrative costs
fixed costs
Indirect Reducing other costs
Problem types
Role of expertise
Role of facts
Complexity
E.g. What is the E.g. How do you E.g. Who will be the E.g. How profitable
height of the Eiffel convert liters to largest car will we be next
Tower? gallons manufacturer in ten quarter?
years?
Adapted from Morgan Jones, The Thinker’s Toolkit
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 38 :41
Complexity
E.g. What is the E.g. How do you E.g. Who will be the E.g. How profitable
height of the Eiffel convert liters to largest car will we be next
Tower? gallons manufacturer in ten quarter?
years?
Adapted from Morgan Jones, The Thinker’s Toolkit
See more at http://powerful-problem-solving.com 39 :41