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Systematic Problem Solving Kepner Tregoe

  • 1.  Systematic Problem Solving Kepner Tregoe

    Posted 08-19-1998 19:13
    From a posting dated July 27:
    <<
    I know that K-T is probably dated, but my own experience is that
    >managers try to apply systematic processes wherever possible. perhaps
    someone
    >could comment on what has become of the K-T approach, and/or similar
    >methodology?

    So far as I know, the K-T approach is alive and well. The workshop
    promotional materials still come around and the methodology is still as
    situationally sound as ever it was. If the classic K-T approach suffers
    from a flaw, it is that the approach is essentially one of troubleshooting
    or fault isolation. This is a dandy technique when something suddenly goes
    wrong and the aim is to put things back the way they were, however, it is
    much more limited in other circumstances.
    >>

    Systematic Problem Solving, or in a larger extent Systematic Innovation
    is not so much concerned with the analysis of existing systems that
    happen to go wrong by defect or external influences. There K-P's way
    is certainly a very useful approach.

    Systematic Innovation focusses more on finding solutions to make
    something better, faster, or reduce cost. The second major application
    is creating what has not been done before. Included in this is risk
    management, because as we all know, many things go wrong and we wonder
    why nobogy thought about the consequences.
    In an even larger extent the organization as a whole is the focus,
    as an innovation generator or inhibitor. Again there are systematic
    steps to change the environment and retain it.
    The concept is based on the morphological approach.

    Emil Zahner
    Innovation Coach
    http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/canmor/index19.htm