[International Bestseller]Problem Solving 101 : A Simple book for smart people

I read this book recently .. It is a nice book but I could not understand why it became a international best seller and big hit in corporate world .. Most of the techniques we already know .. Best thing i liked in this book is setting up priority technique and decision making technique . Best thing is that It took only 3 hours to complete whole book ( 110 pages) :)

Keeping my opinions apart .. Let me put summary of the book

This book was originally written for Japanese School children but it became so famous among adult audience that it became a international best seller. Author worked in McKinsey .

Book talks about different tool kit for problem solving . Books has lot of diagrams and flowcharts for explanation . Good part of book is that it can have wide range of readers starting from school goers to adults , helping all to solve their problems.

Book has three cases studies
1. A college band want to start performing in college and want to become big hit.
2. A middle class boy wants to buy Apple having limited money.
3. A Chinese girl wants to join Brazil school to become soccer player.

Starting a performance in college: Root cause Strategy

Step 1 : Diagnose the situation and identify the root cause of the problem
1A : List all the potential root causes of the problem
1B : Develop the hypothesis for the likely root causes
1C : Determine the analysis and inforamtions required to test the hypothesis
1D : Anlayze and identify the root cause

Step 2 : Develop the Solution
2A : Develop a wide variety of solutions to solve the problem
2B : Prioritize actions
2C : Develop an implementation plan


Soccer School : Pros and Cons Strategy

Spend less time worrying about things and more time thinking about actions you can take to get closer to your goals , then actually take actions

Ask for advice . You don't have to figure everything out on your own. Look for information to help you make the best decision in the given time

Challeng your own thinking processes and your conclusions.

Ask following quesions
What are the pros and cons ? Do i still have the fuill list ? Which options looks more attractive considering both the pros and cons ? Are the pros and cons really pros and cos ? What actions could I take to enhnace the pros and to minimize the cons
What are the specific criterion I should be using ? Do I have the right ones ? Am I weighting each criterion the right way?

Is my evaluation correct ? What information am i basing my evaluation on ? Is it accurate , up to date , and unbiased ? What actions could I take to improve teh attractiveness of my options ?

Buying Apple Laptop : Break down a big problem into smaller goal Strategy

Step 1 : Set a clear goal
Step 2 : Determine the gap between the goal and the current situation
Step 3 : Form a hypothesis about how to close the gap and achieve the goal
3A List as many options and ideas as possible
3B Select the best ideas as the hypothesis

Step 4 : Check the hypothesis . Go back to step 3 if the hypothesis is disproved
4A : Determine the analyses and information required to test the hypothesis
4B : Analyze and develop action plan