In response to recent posts on problem solving, here's what we do. As part
of a Management Skills course in an MBA program, we teach what we call
'Reflective Problem Solving'. This approach to problem solving introduces
students to a variety of methods or tools (e.g. Rational Problem Solving,
Lateral Thinking, Systems Thinking), and encourages them to understand the
strengths and weaknesses of each tool so that they can apply the most
appropriate tool at the most appropriate time, given the nature of the
problem or situation at hand. We use the metaphor of a problem solving
buffet, the idea being that you can select 'portions' of each problem
solving method, you can mix and match, and you can use as much of each as
you like. A paper on this approach to teaching problem solving was
published as Zohar, A & Middleton, C. (1998). "The Problem Solving Buffet:
A Multiple Perspective Approach to Teaching Reflective Problem Solving." in
R.Milter, J. Stinson, & W. Gijselaers (Eds.), Innovation in Business
Education: Theory and Practice, (pp.249-265). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic
Publishers, 1998. The paper can be downloaded in .pdf format at
http://www.yorku.ca/academics/middletn/pubs/psbuffet.pdf
catherine
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Catherine Middleton
PhD Candidate & Instructor, Information Systems/Organizational Behaviour
Mailing address:
OBIR/Schulich School of Business, York University
4700 Keele Street, North York, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
Tel: (416) 654-8395 Fax: (416) 654-9376
E-mail:
cmiddlet@yorku.ca
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