Prescriptive Approach: Rational Problem-Solving Model (PDF)

GROUP DYNAMICS PRESCRIPTIVE APPROACH: RATIONAL PROBLEM- SOLVING MODEL PRESENTED BY: THAMMAR THEA O. RUIZ  topic outline 1 2 Definition of Prescriptive Problem Recognition, Definition, Approach and...

GROUP DYNAMICS PRESCRIPTIVE APPROACH: RATIONAL PROBLEM- SOLVING MODEL PRESENTED BY: THAMMAR THEA O. RUIZ  topic outline 1 2 Definition of Prescriptive Problem Recognition, Definition, Approach and Analysis 3 4 Generating Alternatives and Implementation and Selecting a Solution Evaluation  prescriptive approach The prescriptive approach presents a strategy that encourages teams to solve problems more effectively. This approach is based on the assumptions that: (a) team members should use rational problem-solving strategies, and (b) using a structured approach will lead to a better solution. The value of formal structured approaches to problem solving varies depending on the type of problem. The more unstructured and complex the problem, the more helpful it is if the team uses a structured approach to solve it (Van Gundy, 1981). Fig. 1: Rational Problem-Solving Approach PROBLEM RECOGNITION, DEFINITION, AND ANALYSIS Problems vary in their levels of severity, familiarity, and complexity. The more severe a problem is, the more likely it is to be identified as a hindrance. Teams vary in their levels of desire and ability to identify problems. Team norms have a strong effect on problem identification. Teams vary in how open they are to the environment. Team performance affects the problem identification process. Generating Alternatives and Selecting a Solution Finding an effective solution depends on developing high-quality alternatives (Zander, 1994). The ability of a team to accomplish this is related to the knowledge and skills of team members. However, it also depends on the team’s climate and built-in constructs. Teams sometimes use creativity and other structured techniques to generate alternative solutions to problems. Generating Alternatives and Selecting a Solution After generating alternatives, teams must consider how to determine the best solution. Teams should consider the positive and negative effects of each alternative. The ability to implement the solutions must be considered. Any good solution meets three criteria: 1. It is a prudent agreement that balances the needs of various team members. 2. It is an efficient problem-solving approach that does not consume too much time and resources. 3. It is a process that fosters group harmony (Fisher, Ury, & Patton, 1991). Implementation and Evaluation A solution is not a good one unless it is implemented. This requires commitment from a team to support and enact its solution. A problem-solving team is obliged to think about implementation issues when making a decision (Zander, 1994). It is not useful to agree on a solution that cannot be implemented. This means that the team should plan how the solution is to be implemented, including consideration of the people, time, and resources needed for implementation. Evaluation is one of the most overlooked steps of the problem-solving process. Even when teams do a good job of analyzing the problem and developing solutions, there are unforeseen factors that may lead to failure. Evaluation requires examining how the solution was implemented and what the effects were. (These two evaluations are sometimes called “process evaluation” and “outcome evaluation.”) Implementation and Evaluation Sometimes, even when the solution resolves the problem, the undesirable situation does not change significantly. This happens when a team solves only part of a larger problem and the rest of the problem comes to the foreground. By taking a larger perspective on the problem, the team may be able to determine the more critical parts of the problem that should be solved. The evaluation stage provides information for future problem identification and solving. CONCLUSION The prescriptive approach to problem solving includes a series of structured stages. The problem identification and analysis stage is affected by the severity and complexity of the problem, team norms about discussing problems, and the amount of uncertainty in the environment. The process of developing and selecting alternative solutions is improved by creativity techniques to generate alternatives and by analysis techniques to examine alternatives in a systematic manner. Implementing solutions requires planning and an evaluation system to provide feedback on the process. Thank you for listening!