Our book demonstrates a wide range of practical, field-tested tools, but the secret to structured problem-solving is not the tools themselves. Those are just pieces of something bigger. The bridge from issues to action is built on two different kinds of resources, working together:
Process. There are steps to follow (and, frequently, steps within steps).
Principles. There is a lore, a wisdom drawn from experienced experts, that has shaped the design of the tools, and that guides our choices of which and when and how to use them.
The first “structure” in our structured problem-solving approach is a seven-step scaffolding that defines the overall process. We like to depict this in the shape of a diamond, to emphasize how its nature changes as we progress through it. The book digs deep into each step, introducing the relevant tools and demonstrating how to use them – and use them well.
