How can you develop action plans from collaborative problem solving?

Collaborative problem solving is a skill that can help you and your team tackle complex challenges, generate creative ideas, and reach consensus on the best solutions. However, without a clear action plan, your problem solving efforts might go to waste or lose momentum. How can you develop action plans from collaborative problem solving? Here are some tips to help you turn your group decisions into concrete actions.

1 Define the scope

The first step to developing an action plan is to define the scope of the problem and the solution. What is the main goal or objective that you want to achieve? What are the specific outcomes or deliverables that you expect? What are the constraints or limitations that you need to consider? By clarifying the scope, you can set realistic expectations, avoid scope creep, and align your team on the same vision.

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Zach Ward

Learning and Leadership Development
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Before starting collaborative problem solving and project planning, identify any stakeholders who could be missing from the conversation. You can define the scope of the problem and the desired outcomes, but if a leader who has strong opinions on the deliverables isn't involved, your work could be stalled - at best - and your interpersonal relationships can become more challenging.

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2 Assign roles and responsibilities

The next step is to assign roles and responsibilities to each team member or stakeholder involved in the action plan. Who will do what, when, and how? Who will be accountable for the results? Who will provide support, feedback, or resources? Who will communicate with whom and how often? By defining roles and responsibilities, you can distribute the workload, foster collaboration, and ensure accountability.

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3 Break down the tasks

The third step is to break down the solution into smaller and manageable tasks. What are the steps or activities that you need to complete to achieve the goal? How long will each task take and what are the dependencies or prerequisites? How will you measure progress and quality? By breaking down the tasks, you can create a realistic timeline, prioritize the most important or urgent tasks, and monitor the performance.

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4 Identify risks and contingencies

The fourth step is to identify risks and contingencies that might affect the action plan. What are the potential obstacles or challenges that you might encounter along the way? How likely and how severe are they? How can you prevent, mitigate, or overcome them? What are the alternative plans or options that you can use if something goes wrong? By identifying risks and contingencies, you can anticipate problems, prepare for uncertainties, and adapt to changes.

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Zach Ward

Learning and Leadership Development
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Creative project managers see risks and contingencies like Choose Your Own Adventure™️ novels. There can be multiple paths to the end. The decisions teams make along the way can open up or limit the number of paths they have left to hit project goals and deliver the project on time. Teams who fail to identify risks often ignore external risks to the project, shifting organizational priorities, restructuring, layoffs, new leadership.

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5 Review and refine

The fifth step is to review and refine the action plan before implementing it. How feasible and effective is the action plan? Does it align with the problem statement and the solution criteria? Does it address the needs and expectations of the stakeholders? Does it have any gaps or errors that need to be corrected? How can you improve the action plan based on feedback or new information? By reviewing and refining the action plan, you can ensure its quality, relevance, and accuracy.

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6 Execute and evaluate

The final step is to execute and evaluate the action plan. How will you execute the tasks and deliver the outcomes? How will you coordinate and communicate with your team and stakeholders? How will you track and report the progress and results? How will you measure and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the solution? How will you celebrate and recognize the achievements and learnings? By executing and evaluating the action plan, you can implement the solution, assess the outcomes, and learn from the experience.

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Zach Ward

Learning and Leadership Development
(edited)
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Go back to the ADDIE cycle and analyze the outcomes, improvements and solutions, based on the original problem to be solved. The ADDIE cycle encourages systematic iteration. A ⟹ Analyze D ⟹ Design D ⟹ Develop I ⟹ Implement (Execute) E ⟹ Evaluate

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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People Management

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How can you develop action plans from collaborative problem solving?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define the scope

2 Assign roles and responsibilities

3 Break down the tasks

4 Identify risks and contingencies

5 Review and refine

6 Execute and evaluate

7 Here’s what else to consider

People Management

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How can you develop action plans from collaborative problem solving?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define the scope

2 Assign roles and responsibilities

3 Break down the tasks

4 Identify risks and contingencies

5 Review and refine

6 Execute and evaluate

7 Here’s what else to consider

People Management

Rate this article

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