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Problem solving in a company - Don't wait too long

What is happening when something goes wrong in a big company?
First things is a buzz, then people start to talk between them, after that a lot of meetings are organized at different level to see identify the root problem, the causes and discuss a lot of around what they should do.
In the end a committee is organized, with a stakeholder, an accountable and other so on. This committee will start all the process from beginning, will try to understand exactly what went wrong and prepare one or more solutions.
Of course each solution has a strict plan, with new process and imaginary solutions.
Why imaginary solutions?
Well, none of them were tested. Unfortunately, people from the committee didn't worked on the 'war' field and don't know the voice of the 'people'. Because of this solutions proposed by them will not be seen with good eyes by people.
A lot of time, this solutions don't have any connection with the real problem, are very complicated and are coming to late. To late means a fail, because you already lost the war.

What should we do in situations like this?
  • I would involve people from field to resolve the problem.
  • Try the most simple solutions.
  • Don't wait too long, try a solution, see if it's works and move to another one if the problem persist.
  • Don't add a new process to an existing one only to have more control.
  • Let solutions to grow and die organic. Don't enforce and die with them if are not good.
  • Be open to change.
  • Be prepared to recognize a fail - "fail fast".
  • React to change and don't wait too long.
All this ideas and many more are around to things that are very important:
  • React fast, don't wait to much. Each additional second that you wait will add an extra cost to you. Try each solution.
  • Involve people from field when you investigate the problem and search for a solution.
If everything fails don't be afraid to ask for help from an external resource. All around the world there are people better than you, that already had this issues and solved it.


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