The posts by Dick Dailey and Kim Boal regarding problem solving caught my
attention and prompt me to comment. The notion advanced by Dailey about
selecting an appropriate model or technique for solving the problem is a
good one as is Boal's comment about defining what a good solution looks
like. A couple of articles of mine touch on these points. One is titled
"Yes, It Makes A Difference: Choosing the Right Problem Solving Tool" and
the other is titled "Reengineering the Problem Solving Process: Finding
Better Solutions Faster." The first was published in Quality Progress and
the second in Performance Improvement Quarterly. Both can be found at my
articles web site:
http://home.att.net/~nickols/articles.htm
I think anyone interested in problem solving will find them useful.
Fred Nickols, Executive Director
Strategic Planning & Management Services
Educational Testing Service [01-D]
Princeton, NJ 08541
Tel = 609.734.5077 Fax = 609.734.5590
e-mail =
fnickols@ets.org
Views expressed are the author's, not ETS's.