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I teach a graduate level "team diagnosis and development" course at
George Washington University. Our students are experienced adults,
primarily HR generalists, OD and HRD specialists.

One of the topics we review is group problem solving. In addition to
presenting a model of problem solving (including a review of various
analytic tools), I would like to bring the concepts to life with some
practice. Consequently, I am seeking an exercise, simulation or case
study that involves the application of structured problem solving
processes, including the application of various analytic tools.

The students will have read a couple of reviews of group problem solving
and quality improvement tools including Chapter 8 ("Helping the Group
Solve Problems") from Schwarz, The Skilled Facilitator and portions from
Scholtes, Joiner and Streibel, The Team Handbook. (including Chpt 2:
"Learning the Tools").

I will appreciate any recommendations list members may have for
exercises or cases.

Thanks for your help.

Ron Morgan

Ronald B. Morgan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, HRD
Director, Masters Cohort Program in HRD
George Washington University
Ph: 703 549-7156
Fax: 703 299-0295
rbmorgan@patriot.net

What kind of problem solving are you looking for? Food Corp is an in-box
exercise that is focused on strategic planning and problem solving. There
are any number of ways you can play it using whatever tools come to hand.
In addition, there is a negotiation exercise using colors. Each student gets
a card with a position and the group has to come to a consensus. If you are
interested in this I can provide more info. In additiion, there are a
number of physical, experiential problem solving exercises you can do. If
you can focus it better perhaps we can give you some ideas

Beryl Harman
harman_beryl@dau.mil
-------------original message----------
I teach a graduate level "team diagnosis and development" course at
George Washington University. Our students are experienced adults,
primarily HR generalists, OD and HRD specialists.

One of the topics we review is group problem solving. In addition to
presenting a model of problem solving (including a review of various
analytic tools), I would like to bring the concepts to life with some
practice. Consequently, I am seeking an exercise, simulation or case
study that involves the application of structured problem solving
processes, including the application of various analytic tools.

The students will have read a couple of reviews of group problem solving
and quality improvement tools including Chapter 8 ("Helping the Group
Solve Problems") from Schwarz, The Skilled Facilitator and portions from
Scholtes, Joiner and Streibel, The Team Handbook. (including Chpt 2:
"Learning the Tools").

I will appreciate any recommendations list members may have for
exercises or cases.

Thanks for your help.

Ron Morgan
rbmorgan@patriot.net

From: DimakatsoG@aol.com [mailto:DimakatsoG@aol.com]

For years now I've started my units/modules on group problem solving with a
case that is now available from HBS, the Florida Power and Light case. When
I first became apprised of it, it was only a series of transparencies; now
it
may come in fancier style. But I've found that it works to make the whole
class the cross-functional problem solving FPL team, posing questions and
walking them through the "story panels" of what the Florida Power and Light
cross-functional team actually did. (This is all backed up with readings on
some of the structured problem-solving methods.)

From there we go on to all kinds of other things, including framing and
solving "fuzzy," unstructured or ambiguous problems. I usually end the
module with a group problem-solving exercise using...Lego. But students seem
to really build well on having a bit of process flow analysis, fish
diagrams,
etc. under their belts. By the way, like yours, my students at the Kennedy
School of Government are mostly experienced practitioners, with the added
bonus of being quite a mix of nationalities. The group problem solving
segment is now folded into a larger course I created, entitled Knowledge
Management--the Human Side (it's on the Harvard/KSG web pages).

Geri Augusto
The Kennedy School of Government
Cambridge
geri_augusto@harvard.edu