Decide on a solution
You will usually not find just one right or wrong answer to a problem. You should develop two or three good solutions, then choose the one you believe is best in the circumstances.
Doctors, for example, have the option of prescribing several antibiotics for strep throat, and they choose the one they think is best for each individual patient.
Points to consider in deciding on a solution are shown below:You will usually not find just one right or wrong answer to a problem.
- What is important to the company?
- What is important to the company’s customers?
- What is important to me as the problem solver?
Assume a bank wants to extend afternoon and Saturday hours. What are the possible solutions?
| Potential solution | Why this is a good solution |
| 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday | The tellers and managers can count the money, balance their books, and leave by 5 p.m. Payroll will be lower since no one will have to stay late. |
| 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday |
Customers may come in after work two days a week to handle their banking matters. A limited number of tellers will have to stay late during the week, which increases the payroll. |
| 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. - 12 noon Saturday |
Customers may come in after work one day a week or on Saturday mornings. The bank should get new customers, but the payroll will increase. |
