3+Problem+Solving

=**Cause and Effect** =

//**Programmed decisions**// don't require any problem solving as they have pre-defined solutions. //**Non-programmed decisions**// however, don't have an obvious solution and therefore present an //**issue**// or //**problem**// to the business decision-makers//**.**//

Task One
The first step in solving any problem, is to understand //**how and why**// the issue occurred. In other words, we must identify the **//causes//** of the issue.

 **//Watch and//** //**Read about Cause and Effect**//

Watch the video below and identify which events are the //**causes**// and which events are the //**effects**//. media type="youtube" key="q8i9AzvzCxk" height="315" width="420"

( Benhoz, 2011 )  A //**cause**// can be defined as "a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result..." (www.dictionary.com). //In the above video, the cause of the scenario is that a man knocks the white ball into a domino trail that had been arranged over six pool tables. //

 An **//effect//** can be defined as "something that is produced by an agency or cause..." (www.dictionary.com) //In the above video, the effect is that each ball on six pool tables goes into one of the pockets. //

//**Discuss the Causes**// What events had to have happened for all of the balls to roll perfectly into their respective pockets of the table? Discuss what events or actions may have been necessary to achieve this effect with your group. //(Hint: Who set up the dominoes? Was there a 'test'? Where did they learn to do this?)//

**NOTE:** A useful tool to map out the causes of an effect is an Ishikawa (or fishbone) Diagram. This tool will help you to gain a greater understanding of of the causes of an issue. You can revise how to create an Ishikawa diagram on the ToolTest page.

Task Two
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A better understanding of the problem is gained by identifying the ways in which a problem impacts on the business organisation. Ask yourself the question, how will this problem affect:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Internal stakeholders - such as employees, managers, finance staff, marketing staff, sales staff, production staff, or admin staff.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">External stakeholders - such as customers, suppliers, competitors, environmental or community groups.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The quadruple bottom line of the company - Economic, cultural, social, and environmental sustainability; Profit, revenues, costs.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Scenario:** Consider a case where an airline has an 'effect' or issue of declining sales. Management have identified that this decline is mainly due to a recent news story suggesting that there is a poor record of fuel efficiency and flight safety inside the company's fleet of planes.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> //**Comment on the Impacts**// <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As a group, identify **//two impacts//** and post them on to the Wallwisher below. Make sure you clearly identify //**who**// the stakeholder is, and //**what**// the specific impact is.

media type="custom" key="10685046" For help with Wallwisher, visit the Tool Test page. **Checkpoint!**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**// Before you move on to the next page, you should be able to: //**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Recognise a range of causes of a business issue.//**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">**//Recognise that problems impact on a range of stakeholders.//**