Focusing on Solutions Rather Than Problems

There are 2 modes of thought:

- Problem-Oriented
- Solution-Oriented.

Often times the second mode doesn't even cross our minds. Below are 2 short but insightful case studies:

Case 1


When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work

at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million.

They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface

including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C. So... what did the Russians do...??

They used a pencil...


Case 2



One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box,

which happened in one of Japan 's biggest cosmetics companies. The company

received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty.

Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which

transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department.

For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management

asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise

an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed

through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but

they spent a whoopee amount to do so.



But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem,

he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution.

He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on,

and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.



Moral

Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems :-)



LET’S LEARN TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS, NOT ON PROBLEMS :)

Courtesy of INDIAONRENT.com