Problem Solving and Decision Making:

Decision making is the key to a manager's success. To be a good decision maker one needs to first understand the relationship between Problem Solving and Decision making. Decision making is just one step or part of problem solving.

Different steps in reaching a decision:

• Estimation Analysis
• Valuing
• Priority Setting
• Problem Analysis
• Information Gathering
• Problem Definition
• Situation Analysis
• Idea
• Decision Making
• Implementation

Decision making and Implementation can be done at either Individual level or team-wise. Thus if we draw a matrix we can get four combinations:

Of all the combinations one colored yellow is the most complex at it it involves complexities due to the involvement of the group in which different candidates may have different views regarding the problem. The one where both the decision and implementation is done by individual is an example of Craftsmanship. In Modern Management system all the decisions are made in groups.

Are problems tough?
Well i believe no problem is tough.Its the inability to find the root cause that makes the problem look tough.Once the root cause is realized or understood,the problem no longer remains tough.Hence emphasis should be made on finding the causes of the problem because once they are known, their solutions can be easily obtained.

Keep learning!! Keep thinking!!!

NAVRANG CUBE- An analogy to Modern Organisation!!

People say its important that  we exercise our body as well as brain. Most people even today donot take this seriously. Mental exercise not only gives relaxation but also makes mind sharp.We can exercise our brain by reading, solving puzzles,cubes,crosswords, Sudoku,playing chess etc.

                                                             

 NAVRANG CUBE is a simple playing cube composed of 27 identical small cubes of 9 different colours ( 3 cubes of same colour) . The cube has hole in 5 sides and a connector in one side so as to hold on the other cube. When seen , it resembles like the Rubic cube but is very different in nature and composition . All the 27 cubes in this can be disassembled .  The cube is said to be solved when each of the faces has 9 different colour cubes ie. there is no repetition of same colour cube at any face.

When Dr. Mandi brought NAVRANG cube to class i was clueless about its significance in management class. But Dr. Mandi used NAVRANG cube as an analogy for modern day organisation.The idea was innovative and mesmerising.

He explained solving of NAVRANG cube is somewhat like solving the problems of Organisation Management. He gave following line of thinking which mesmerised us all
1)As the cubes of same colour do not appear at the same face so should not be the people or resources of same skills and characters appear at the same strata - else there may be ego clash or skill deficiency.
2)It is important that we have diversity within the organisation so that different ideas and views come up and a broader vision and perspective gets established.The organisation than becomes holistic and multidimensional.
3)But while diversity brings broader perspective,it is very important that different views are channelised towards a common goal i.e. growth of organisation.
As always this lecture changed my way of thinking.Hope you guys feel the same.
Keep reading!! Keep learning!!