Community Problem Solving Process

Community Problem Solving Process

About problems

What is the problem? How would you define one? We usually define a problem fairly negatively, a problem is a hassle, and it’s a pain in the neck. This is often true but more generally a problem can be considered the different between what is and what might or should be. However, the problem also has their advantages too.

For starters

• Most problems are solvable or partially solvable or at least improvable. We can do something about them. The task may seem overwhelming it’s surely done when suffragettes worked to give women the right to vote but it’s not hopeless. Our optimistic assumption is that we can change the world.
• Problems are opportunities to make some good thing happen. If it were not for problems what would be our motivation to create change?
• Problems are also challenges. They call upon the best of our abilities and ask us to go beyond what we thought we could do. They make life interesting and at least sometimes fun. Without problems, life could be pretty boring.

Problem solving

Problem-solving is an individual or collaborative process composed of two different skills.

• To analyze a situation accurately and
• To make a good decision based on that analysis

Importance of group process in problem-solving

Many of the problems and challenges we face as members of our organization affect everyone in the group. Therefore it makes sense that everyone is the part of the solution. And as the saying goes two heads are better than one so we just can imagine what can be accomplished with a room full of dedicated people.

• Effective group process enhances a group’s ability to solve problems and make a decision. When working with more than just a couple of people, solving a problem with a set of the process becomes more manageable.
• It increases the groups’ efficiency and productivity.
• It increases the group's participation- more people tend to be involved and as a result.
• It increases group’s satisfaction. This means among other things that the group is more likely to one to take on other problems. And when they do so they will be a better place to solve them.

Problem solving process

Like any other places, there are many different tasks that need to be done to properly solve the problem. And again like any other process skipping some of these steps will make the job more difficult in the long run. Here is the brief explanation of each of the steps.

Running effective meetings

Since we work will be in a group the first things you need to understand is how to hold a good meeting. Running a meeting means more than just moving the group through the agenda. When we run a meeting we are responsible for the wellbeing of the group and the members in it. That demands a certain amount of attention to be paid to group dynamics and other process issues. Running meetings is a skill, not something we born knowing how to do. Just as with a skill, you will get better with practice and more confident too. A meeting can be effective when an attention is paid to the four phases of meeting management. List the amount of time you plan for each item. If someone other than yours presenting some past of the agenda list that too and send it out at least a week ahead of time. A member of any group should know what they are coming to do. If the agenda is your road map then make sure it has all of the stops listed on it, without too many unnecessary side trips. Let everyone know what is going to be discussed don’t keep it a secret.

Developing facilitation skills

Strong facilitation skills go hand in hand with the running and effective meeting. A good facilitator helps to diffuse explosive emotion, make sure everyone voice is heard and steer the group towards the best decision.

Facilitation has three basic principles

• A facilitator is a guide to help people more through a process together not the seat of wisdom and knowledge. That means facilitators are not there to give opinions but to draw out opinions and ideas of the group members.
• Facilitations focus on how people participate in the process of learning and planning not just on what gets achieved.
• Facilitators are neutral and never take sides.

Facilitations actually means

• Understanding the goals of the meeting and the organization
• Keeping the group on the agenda and moving forward.
• Involving everyone in the meeting including drawing out the quiet participants and controlling the dominating one.
• Making sure that decision is made democratically.

For effective participation and meeting

• Making sure everyone feels comfortable participating.
• Developing a structure that allows for everyone’s idea to be heard.
• Making members feel good about their contribution to the meeting.
• Making sure the groups feel that the ideas and decisions are theirs, not just the leaders. Supporting everyone’s ideas and not criticizing anyone for what they have said.

Recording skills

Good recording skills make sure that not only one, everyone’s opinion should be heard; they are also seen, remembered and followed up. Good recording is one of the most important parts of setting up and effective meeting.

Importance of recording

• Recording a meeting lets people know that they have keen listen to and really heard.
• It provides a historical record that can be used those future meetings for verification of decision and as a reminder of past events and action.
• It can provide important information to people who were not invited to or able to attain the meeting.
• It helps to keep everyone on track; if everything is written down the group is more likely to stick to the agenda or to pull itself back into it.

Developing minutes

The minutes are an important part of the recording process and should not be forgotten.

• Time and place
• The names of those present
• The key points made for each agenda item
• A specific decision that was made. These might be underlined or highlighted in another way for easier reference

Defining and analyzing the problem

The way of the problem is worded and understood has a huge impact on the quality and type of purpose solution. When you are gathering the information you will probably hear all four types of information and all can be important. Speculation and opinion can be especially important in gathering public opinion. If public opinion is on your issue based on faulty assumptions part of your solution strategies will probably include some sort of information campaign.