Session 5 Select the best solution

Step #4: Select the best solution Once a variety of possible solutions have been identified the best solution should be selected Circumstances, resources, and other considerations should be discussed and taken into account Try to figure out exactly what would work best given who they are, what they have to work with, and any other considerations that will affect the solution

There are always a number of things that can affect a solution:  money,  time,  people,  procedures, policies, rules, etc. All of these factors must be thought about and talked through. Can you think of any other factors that could affect a solution?

The Process The individual or group should prioritize the solutions into what would work the best Some possible suggestions may be eliminated immediately Eventually, the solutions should be boiled down to one or two best solutions The individual or group should then discuss the remaining solutions and come to consensus on the best solution

Decision Making Decision making is a process of identifying and evaluating choices. We make numerous decisions every day and our decisions may range from routine, every-day types of decisions to those decisions which will have a long term impact

Types of Decisions There are three main types of decisions we make: routine impulsive reasoned Deciding what to eat for breakfast is a routine decision. Deciding to buy something at the last minute you don't really need is an impulsive decision. Choosing your career is a reasoned decision.

When you are problem- solving you should always be making reasoned decisions!

Decision Making Strategies The crux of decision making, is the identification and evaluation of alternatives. As you consider alternatives, use the following suggestions: Consider the outcome each is likely to produce, in both the short term and the long term. Compare alternatives based on how easily you can accomplish each. Evaluate possible negative side effects each may produce. Consider the risk involved in each. Be creative, original; don't eliminate alternatives because you have not heard or used them before. An important part of decision making is to predict both short-term and long-term outcomes for each alternative. You may find that while an alternative seems most desirable at the present, it may pose problems or complications over a longer time period.

Build Your Skills Playing devil's advocate, thinking with "different hats", practicing making decisions, and understanding both sides of an issue will help you build your ability to choose solutions.. In the activities that follow, you will be building skills that will help select the best solution when problem solving.

Activity: Devil’s Advocate

Edward Debono's Six Thinking Hats "Six hats" is a tool you can use to look at things from different perspectives Each hat represents a different way of approaching a problem It was developed by Edward Debono

White Neutral and objective Focuses on information and facts

Red Emotional Focuses on feelings Doesn't worry about justifications or explanations

Black Negative and gloomy Focused on what is wrong and could go wrong Is more concerned about pointing out the problem than solving the problem

Yellow Optimistic and hopeful Focuses on ideas and alternatives

Blue Manager Focuses on using all the hats to solve the problem Likes comments and suggestions

Green Creative Focuses on new ideas

Activity: Thinking Hats

Activity: Decisions, Decisions

Activity: Take two sides

Practice John was told by his boss four weeks ago that he would have to do a big presentation at work. The presentation needed to be prepared in addition to a number of regular daily tasks. He focused on his daily tasks and did a good job completing them but the presentation kept "slipping" his mind. On the night before the due date of the presentation, he realized that he had at least 8-10 hours' worth of work left to do on the presentation. This wasn't the first time he had procrastinated on a major work assignment and left it until the last minute. Last year he received a note on his personal file for a similar situation. What is the best solution?

Credits This Power Point was created by Laubach Literacy Ontario. The resources can be downloaded free of charge at This Employment Ontario project was funded by the Ontario Government All website links were accurate at the time of original distribution-March All of the images and clip art used in this Power Point are from Clipart.com and Microsoft Office.com.