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APPLIED PROBLEM SOLVING IN A LOGISTICS WORKPLACE LOG3091M BSc (HONS) LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT WBLD LOGLOGUB Tutor: Michael Howitt Student: Samuel B. Afranie Student ID: AFR1229662 Date: CONTENTS Abbreviations Glossary of Terms Introduction Activity 1 Identifying complex problems Activity 2 Identifying complex problems in my workplace. Activity 3 A model for complex problem solving Activity 4 Innovative and unusual models Activity 5 Choosing my problem Activity 6 Analysing the problem Activity 7 Identification of a range of possible solutions Activity 8 Identifying the likely constraints Activity 9 Evaluation of potential solutions …show more content…

Both activities have shown me that the definition of a complex problem is in itself complex (Funke, 1991) and is subject to many interpretations by different researchers (Gray, 2002 and Wenke et al, 2005). It has also shown me that presenting a problem in a different manner can affect how the solutions are thought about (Gambrill, 2006). ACTIVITY 3 A MODEL FOR COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING Activity 3 looked at McWhinney’s Model of Change (1997), how it could be utilised to solve complex problems and how it can be related to the model. The 4 modes of reality are the basic element of the model; these are known as Unitary, Sensory, Social and Mythic (McWhinney et al, 1997). This provided the foundation for the model on which the 6 modes of change, 12 directional methods, 6 leadership styles and 6 games of change were built. Each mode of change had 2 directional methods attached to it, that work in oppounit to one another and it was the utilisation of these different methods that guided the user to think about alternative solutions to a problem. For example, when the British Army decided to install a new deployable maintenance software system, the management used the facilitate directional method to see how the idea would be received by the suppliers, using their feelings from the social reality to create the vision and ideas for the new system in the mythic reality using the oppounit

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