Structured Problem Solving: City of Beaverton Traffic Commission meeting on May 6, 2010

1511 Words4 Pages

Structured problem solving

Problem solving skills are a key element of productive group work. Problem solving skills are not given by nature; these skills are a result of hard work and training. Structured problem solving techniques are very effective way of solving the problem. This technique allows teams to learn how to figure out solutions to the problems (3 ). The three most common methods developed to improve problem solving in groups are the Standard Agenda, the Functional perspective, and Single Question format. In this paper we will cover the Standard Agenda methods as a problem solving procedure (1).

The Standard Agenda method was developed by John Dewey. John Dewey was an American philosopher and educator. Dewey made seminal contributions to every field and topic in philosophy and psychology. Dewey is well known for his publication concerning education. He was one of the creators of school systems and educational policies in Turkey and Soviet Russia (4). The standard agenda includes the following processes: task clarification, problem identification, fact finding, solution criteria, solution suggestions, solution evaluation and selection, and solution implementation. As an example of implementing standard agenda methods we will analyze the City of Beaverton Traffic Commission meeting on May 6, 2010.

The first phase of standard agenda is Task Clarification. During Task Clarification the group members should understand the task of the meeting, and should be familiar with their personal roles. In case of the Traffic Commission, the task clarification was developed before the actual meeting. The committee members were familiar with the agenda and their personal roles.

The second phase of standard agenda is Prob...

... middle of paper ...

...ogical or rational response. Some of the proposed changes could have been dismissed from the beginning, and our tax money could have been spent on more realistic items. All in all the system works to make decisions, but seems to be a huge bureaucratic waste of time.

Paper 2

Sources:

1. Engleberg, Isa & Wynn, Dianna, Working in groups. (Boston: Pearson, 2010)

2. John Dewey, How We Think. (New York: Dover Publications, 1997)

3. Use a Precise way to solve a problem with structured problem solving techniques.. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.greatbrainstormingtechniques.com/structured-problem-solving-techniques.php

4. John Dewey, American pragmatist. (2010). Retrieved from http://dewey.pragmatism.org/

5. Traffic commission agenda & minutes. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/publicworks/transportation/trafficcomm.aspx

More about Structured Problem Solving: City of Beaverton Traffic Commission meeting on May 6, 2010

Open Document