Table of Contents >
Chapter 17. Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions >
Section 1. An Introduction to the Problem Solving Process >
|
| Contributed by Jenette Nagy and Catie Heaven Edited by Jerry Schultz and Kate Nagy |
Tool #1: Problem analysis sheet
The following page gives you room to analyze the problem or issue you want your group to address. This information can then be used when you go to step 7 in the "how-to's": Set goals and objectives.
Problem Analysis Sheet |
| | What factors put people at risk for (or protect them against) the problem or concern? | | | Whose behavior (or lack of behavior) caused the problem? | | | Whose behavior (or lack of behavior) maintains the problem? | | | For whom is the situation a problem? | | | What are the negative consequences for those directly affected? | | | What are the negative consequences for the community? | | | Who, if anyone, benefits from things being the way they are now? | | | How do they benefit? | | | Who should share the responsibility for solving the problem? | | | What behaviors need to change to consider the problem "solved"? | | | What conditions need to change to address the issue or problem? | | | How much change is necessary? | | | At what level(s) should the problem be addressed? | | | Will you be able to make changes at the level(s) identified? | | |
return to top
Tool #2: Components and Elements Background Table
Use this table to look holistically at the intervention you will develop.
| | Providing Information and Skills Training | Enhancing Support |
| Problem/ Issue to be Addressed | | |
| Risk/ Protective Factors | | |
| Targets of Change | | |
| Agents of Change | | |
| Components | | |
| Elements | | |
| Mode/ Context of Delivery | | |
return to top
Tool # 3: Table of Components and Elements
You can fill in this table to look at all of the components and elements that will be done as a part of your intervention. By filling this out, you can see if there are any gaps in your plan that need to be filled in. (For example, if your plan doesn't have any elements related to providing information and skills training, that gap will be very apparent on this table.)
| | Providing Information and Skills Training | Enhancing Support and Resources | Modifying Opportunities and Barriers | Monitoring and feedback |
| Components |
| | | |
| Elements |
| | | |
return to top
Tool # 4: Determining if interventions done by others are appropriate for your purpose and situation
Use this table to help you determine if a particular intervention you know about is right for your purpose and situation.
| What is the intervention? Is it appropriate for our purpose? | |
| Is it effective? | |
| Is it replaceable? | |
| Is it simple? | |
| Is it practical? | |
| Is it compatible to our situation? | |
| Additional comments: | |
return to top
Checklist
Here you will find a checklist summarizing the important points of the section.
About problems.
__ Problems are usually seen as negative.
__ Advantages problems may bring:
- Most problems are solvable (or partially solvable, or at least improvable).
- Problems are opportunities to make some good things happen and to create change.
- Problems call upon the best of our abilities, and ask us to go beyond what we thought we could do.
Why is a group problem-solving process important?
__ Effective group processes enhance a group's ability to solve problems and make decisions. When working with more than just a couple of people, solving a problem with a set process becomes more manageable.
__ It increases the group's efficiency and productivity.
__ It increases the group's participation - more people tend to be involved, and, as a result,
__ It increases group satisfaction. This means, among other things, that the group is more likely to want to take on other problems. And when they do so, they'll be better placed to solve them.
What is the problem-solving process?
__ Run effective meetings.
__ Develop facilitation skills.
__ Develop recorder skills.
__ Define and analyze the problem.
__ Generate and choose solutions.
__ Put your solution into practice.