Problem solving

Introduction

How do you react when you think of "problems"? Do they mean something’s wrong? Do you see hours of your time disappearing in damage control and the search for a solution? Or are you an enduring optimist: problems are early warning signs to issues that need to be addressed. Perhaps your view is more pragmatic: problems simply signify differences between what is actually happening and what needs to happen.

Whichever way you look at problems, you would know from experience that problem solving requires good management. Excellent communication skills, the ability to gather relevant information and properly analyse it, the ability to discern what’s important and what’s not, and ability to actually make decisions, in a timely and appropriate fashion. How does your thinking and practice measure up?

An alternative, more complete course, on solving problems is also available on Wikiversity.

This unit is used in:

• First Line Management
• International Tourism

Learning support, assessment and certification

The following learning institutions offer learning support, assessment services, and accreditation for courses using this unit:

• Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin, New Zealand offers both face to face and online support in this programme in the School of Business Travel and Tourism, through the (New Zealand) National Certificate in First Line Management.

Content

Implement the solution

we can define a problem & provide possible solutions