Here is a list of useful resources that can help with problem solving.
Problem-solving in general
- Ken Watanabe’s Problem Solving 101 is an excellent primer. Explaining problem solving to kids, ex-McKinsey consultant Watanabe does a great job at introducing the key concepts of the process.
Define the problem
- Tom Peters has a great blog, full of useful comments and connecting to a bunch of other sites. It is probably the RSS I check most often. Tom also makes his slide decks available to all. If you have a bit of free time, review one, they always are thought-provoking and fun to read.
- Barbara Minto’s Pyramid principles is a classic on using logic to improve our thinking and communication. Her book’s section on introductions is very helpful. Her use of hierarchical layers to present information is also one of the recurrent themes in this methodology.
Diagnose the problem
- The 5 Whys technique of the Six Sigma methodology has some similarities with developing “why” logic trees.
Identify solutions
- Edward de Bono is an expert on creative thinking. Looking for ways to make your thinking more collectively exhaustive? Review his methods.
- Morgan Jones’ Thinker’s Toolkit as a great section on testing hypotheses. Its section on identifying the right problem is also worth your time.
- James Surowiecki advocates that groups are smarter than individuals. His book is a short, fun read.
- Kenichi Ohmae’s The Mind of the Strategist is a classic on business strategy. Various of his sections are directly relevant to our themes, including determining the critical issue and using diagrams/trees.
- Schwartz’ The Paradox of Choice is good resource for understanding the concepts of satisficing and optimizing, identifying where you.
Execute your solution
- Garr Reynolds has a great blog, Presentation Zen, about preparing and delivering presentations. He also has a book out with the same name.
- Dan Pink talks a lot about the importance of design; the main point of A Whole New Mind is that analytical skills are not enough anymore, you also need to use the right side of your brain.
- Nancy Duarte’s slide:ology has excellent ideas to make your slides more powerful.
- An anonymous poster has a great presentation on Slideshare on how to present.
- iStockPhoto has a bunch of royalty-free photos to help you enhance your presentations (most photos on this site are from there).
- Gene Zelazny’s Say it with Presentations and Say it with Charts provide powerful tips to improve your presentations.
- TED Talks is an amazing collection of current trend-setting intellectuals and artists. Each have 18 minutes (or less) to talk about their subjects. The talks are a good source of inspiration to improve our presentations.
- Getting to Yes is a great guide to improve your negotiation skills.
- Steven Sample’s Guide to the Contrarian Leadership has many good ideas applicable to all stages in the problem-solving process.