The 1-3-1 problem solution method embraces many of the philosophies of the systems thinking habits.
(1) What is the problem?
A problem well defined is a problem half solved [Habit 5]. If you can make the problem visible, you can most likely garner support and rally people to work with you to solve it.
(2) What are three possible solutions?
You can’t get the solutions without first eliciting the perceptions of people who are touching the elephant (problem) [Habit 3] and zooming in and out to try to spot leverage points within your existing environment [Habit 2, 8 and 13]. Developing a systemic solution that is based on the understanding of the system [Habit 7] will require you to resist the urge to come to a quick conclusion [Habit 11] and consider the short-term, long-term and unintended consequences of actions [Habit 10].
(3) Suggest 1 recommendation.
The recommended solution can only solve the problem sustainably when you can identify a systemic solution in solving the problem through the process of successive approximation [Habit 14].
The most impactful part about this 1-3-1 method which is what I like the most is that it pushes decision-making downwards to people who are touching the elephant and embraces the management philosophy that you hire people to let them tell you what to do and not have you tell them how to do their work. In so doing, you teach them how to fish and they will never get hungry for life.
I have designed and conducted systems thinking habits programme for more than 2 years now to close to 15 companies and several of them are repeated clients. The programme is perfected over more than 4.5 years since the day that I created it when I was the Chief Information and Learning Officer with Monde Nissin Corporation (a publicly listed USD1 billion dollars MNC HQ in Philippines).
If you are interested in learning what is systems thinking habits and how it can support your transformative journey towards excellence, check out the services that my company offers at https://www.coddiwompling.sg/services/ and reach out for a free consultancy session or you can simply connect with me via Linkedin to stay tune in on my sharing on how systems thinking habits can support organisation and you in the pursuit towards excellence.
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