Taming Problems...by Type

Finally, you get to solve something! The whole purpose of spending time and effort in Typing a problem is to tap into the greater precision that comes in resolving the problem. Each type links to a unique road map for how to proceed. And each type links to a unique outline for the solution. The process of Naming, Framing, and Aiming are all in service of a more effective effort in Taming.

The links above will take you to descriptions of the Taming steps for each problem type. But first...

Assuming you’ve been careful about the Naming, Framing, and Aiming, several things are in place as you contemplate starting to solve the problem:

• Naming: You have identified the circumstances that are problematic and decided that it’s an important problem...and our problem to solve. You’ve thought through the boundaries of the problem, and decided you are looking at the right problem rather than some partial statement.
• Framing: You have considered different ways of viewing the problem while you explored different potential problem types in the situation. You have settled on the most dominant problem type, or at least the best problem type for getting started.
• Aiming: You have lined up the right people with the right project charter to give them the best opportunity to find a solution.

Before you launch, we need to mention that everything from these first three phases is only a hypothesis to be tested during Taming.

• During Naming, we decided there was something worth unraveling, and Taming may change our minds.
• During Framing, you settled on a particular way of viewing the problem, and Taming may uncover some new framework that is more powerful.
• During Aiming, you estimated the resources needed and the likely timeline, and Taming may force us to revisit those estimates.

So one common outcome of Taming is to call for a revision to those provisional understandings. But for the purposes of our work here, let’s assume they were fairly accurate, and you can focus on the other outcome of Taming: a problem solved!