Problem Solving techniques: It's in the envelope
Featured in the Indoor and Outdoor Team Development training manual
By Michèle Barca & Kate Cobb
Category: Team Building
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
All organisations need to be able to deal with unexpected problems. Often, work teams are called upon to come up with answers to these problems. Effective problem solving techniques and procedures will not only increase an organisation’s effectiveness but, ultimately, its success. In this training exercise, small teams work together using problem solving techniques to resolve a given task and then analyse their learning, applying it to their workplace. Participants will also be encouraged to consider the importance of planning problem solving techniques and to think about the changes they could make at work to ensure more effective problem solving.
You briefly explain that the purpose of this training activity is to solve a problem as a team. Participants then work in small groups with an observer to plan their team strategy and problem solving techniques for finding a solution to the problem. This leads into a plenary debriefing session from which the group extract the main learning points of the exercise. Then, working in pairs, participants compare their experience of team problem solving at work with what has emerged from the training exercise. They also consider what changes they would like to see in their team and personal problem solving techniques. The training activity ends with participants noting the main action points for change.
Who is it for: This training activity is intended for use by trainers to involve participants in a team problem-solving exercise and accustom them to receiving feedback from observers.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 10 |
| Max Group Size: | 16 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:45:00 |
| No of Pages: | 22 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: Thin card (suitable for use in a photocopier).
Purpose: This training activity can be used in any training event on management or problem solving techniques. It can also be adapted for communication-skills training. This training activity is suitable for use in the normal training environment and requires little in the way of ‘special equipment’.
Download the training activity, Problem Solving techniques: It's in the envelope as featured in the Fenman training manual; Indoor and Outdoor Team Development