Managing the problem formulation process: guidelines for team leaders and facilitators

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Volkema, Roger J.

Affiliations: Kogod College of Business Administration, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W, Washington, DC 20016, USA. Tel.: +1 202 885 6193; E-mail: volkema@american.edu

Abstract: Problem formulation plays a crucial role in planning, problem solving, and decision making, potentially affecting all the succeeding phases, including idea generation, design, and implementation. Yet formulation is a very difficult process that often is rushed or taken for granted, particularly by new and unskilled team leaders/facilitators. With the advent of team-based organizations, more responsibility now falls on newly-appointed team leaders to manage the formulation process. This paper describes the role of a team leader or facilitator in managing the problem formulation process to reduce Type III errors (solving the “wrong” problem or a sub-optimal problem).

Keywords: Problem formulation, decision making, teambuilding, facilitation

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-1997-16104

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 27-34, 1997