1. Harvard ManageMentor®
Strategizing Solutions to a Problem

2. Discussion Topics
To generate solutions to a problem, we’ll look for relationships, patterns, and trends across seemingly unrelated events and information. We’ll practice:
Borrowing insights from beyond our business
Drawing analogies
Tracking and analyzing trends related to the problem
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3. Borrowing from Beyond Our Business
What are some interesting things people in other companies and industries are doing?
How could their approaches help us solve our problem?
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

4. Drawing Analogies “Our problem is like …”
“Our problem reminds me of …”
“Our problem makes me think of …”
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

5. Tracking and Analyzing Trends
Gradual changes over time?
Sudden changes?
Other trends in our team that might be related?
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

6. Next Steps
Partner with a colleague to practice borrowing, drawing analogies, and tracking trends.
Practice additional ways to identify relationships, patterns, and trends discussed in the Harvard ManageMentor topic Strategic Thinking.
© Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.