WSU-EPD Logo
PTL Image 3

Need Help With Problem Solving Skills At Your Organization? 

 

 Contact EPD today to arrange a customized workshop, professional development series or individual coaching session.

 

For more information, contact Terry Margolis, Director of EPD, at ExecEd@wayne.edu or call (313) 577-4449.

Share this Practical Tool with your connections by using your favorite social media link above!
Join Our Mailing List
Old Main

Read More About Wayne State

What Seems to be the Problem Here?    

 

Identifying the solution to a problem is largely dependent upon pinpointing the problem itself.  When waters are muddy, an Is/Is Not Analysis may help you see the problem more clearly.  An Is/Is Not Analysis is a series of critical questions focused on both what is and is not relevant in the situation at hand.  Performing this analysis can help you develop a focused problem statement and define the scope of the problem.

 

Here are 3 questions to ask in an Is/Is Not Analysis:
  • What are you having a problem with?  Ask yourself what is and is not wrong in the current situation.  What is happening that should not be happening?  What is not happening that should be happening?
  • Who is involved?  Which departments/units/people are implicated and which are not?
  • When was the problem first noticed/documented?  When is the problem present and when is it absent?  Has the problem occurred before?  Is it gradual or sudden?  

 

EPD Learning Solutions Underway: