Tag Archives: problem-solving

Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis is the process of digging into a problem in order to find out what actually caused it. In simple systems or situations this process is pretty straightforward, but of course we often work in situations that are … Continue reading

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

TWSL Series 06: Approach Contexts for Potential Solutions

Today I gave this webinar for the Tom Woods School of Life Lunch and Learn Series. The slides are here.

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why to Address a Problem in an Organized Way

When developing a solution or capability, it is usually good to make it as simple as possible — but no simpler. The key to walking the fine line between too simple and too complex (or too heavy or too expensive … Continue reading

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Brainstorming

I’ve touched on the idea of brainstorming previously, but today I wanted to address it specifically. The simplest way to describe brainstorming is that it is the act of generating as many options as possible, relevant to a particular situation, … Continue reading

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

BA Webinar Series 09a: How to Unsnarl A Problem When You’re Dropped In the Middle of It

Today I gave this webinar for the Tampa IIBA Lunch and Learn Series. The slides are here.

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

BA Webinar Series 09: How To Unsnarl A Problem When You’re Dropped In the Middle of It

I recently gave this webinar for the Philadelphia IIBA monthly meeting. The slides are here.

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Domain Knowledge Acquisition

I’ve touched on this subject briefly before, but I wanted describe it more directly. The simplest definition of domain knowledge, for me, is: what you need to know to create and apply effective solutions in a specific situation. Acquisition, of … Continue reading

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Structured Thought: Problem Solving

On Monday I attended a Meetup at the IIBA’s Pittsburgh Chapter for a presentation about structured problem solving given by a gentleman named Greg Acton. The presentation included an introduction of about twenty minutes, a small group exercise for another … Continue reading

Posted in Tools and methods | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Buggy, Design Contradictions, and TRIZ (now ARIZ)

A Tuesday session of the Project Summit / Business Analyst World conference (June 20th), featured an interesting talk by the New Jersey Department of Health’s Victoria Roza. She described methods of design and creativity coming out of a practice called … Continue reading

Posted in Engineering | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Multiple Paths To Victory

With the release of the game Settlers of Catan in 1995, German inventor Klaus Teuber unleashed a product popular enough to introduce Americans to the Eurogame style of tabletop gaming. Per the Wikipedia entry, “A Eurogame, also called German-style board … Continue reading

Posted in Economy and Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment