It can be very difficult to keep calm in difficult situations. Most people start freaking out when things don’t go the way they want them to go.

A way that you can keep calm in a difficult situation is to step back and analyze the situation as if you were a third party looking in. You must step out of the picture mentally. When you step out of the picture mentally, you can get a better view of coming up with a solution to the problem. The reason that you will most likely come up with a solution to the problem is because you are no longer seeing it as it being your problem. When something affects us we are more vulnerable to the situation. When something affects someone else, we can criticize it easily. The sad thing is that it can be the same situation. People always tend to say things like, “if it were me, I wouldn’t do that.” This is a perfect example.

Things are always better said than done. I can sit here and look at you in the eye and tell you something about a problem, until I am blue in the face. Just because I feel it is a problem, it doesn’t mean that it is a problem for you. People need to relax and stay calm in difficult situations. Staying calm helps you resolve issues, solve problems and give advise to all those involved.

Screaming and yelling to get the point across doesn’t help, it just makes the problem elevate. Keeping a calm voice and killing them with kindness always kind of works. These are my findings and conclusions on keeping calm in a difficult situation.

Legal situations are complex and unique in nature. The identical circumstances in different cases may be reflected in a distinctive way. Why is that? The different points that are argued during a case proceeding are based on the ability of the legal team to smartly tilt the proceedings in the favor of their client. The interpretations of different aspects that emerge in the course of a legal trial affect the outcome of the case; is it knowledge or the experience?

The validation of different points in a case proceeding justifies the rationale of the argument. The judge listens closely to the arguments made by the parties. Every action must be properly outlined within the scope of the law. The existence of proofs and how it relates to the reality of a particular case will highlight the effectiveness of a lawyer. This is the high voltage situation and the legal team that you hire is basically the link that may either strengthen or weaken the case. It is the ability to control the different parameters of the argument in a legal trial.

Determination along with diligence is a critical success factor in controlling the nitty-gritty of the case. The quality of argument will vary from one case to another, however the authority with which the legal team can present the case of their client will offer better reflection of their action in a particular situation. This requisite having the skills to professional exhibit the circumstances in a rational way; do justice to your choice of selecting the legal team that can be of all-embracing support. The authenticity in relationship always produces positive outcomes.

In life we are all dependable on others in some capacity. However the quality of dependency is also vital. In the realm of law, you depend on your legal team to take you out of troubles circumstances. This relationship is built on a very delicate thread. The ability of the legal advisor to design a relevant risk perception model is highly influential. This is only doable when an expert is handling your case. You need to see the broader picture of the situation and choose the most favorable solution.

In business situations, the legal team is more than simply advising the management in making rational decisions. Sometimes the technicalities of the issues are better understood and interpreted by a legal expert. The blurred vision can be highlighted and all the gray area can be removed by a legal expert.

You are the judge of your situations and the issues that are haunting you. High quality legal assistance is necessitated, since many things are at stake. It is all about setting the right priorities for the client. The value that you seek from legal support is reflected on the outcome, isn’t it? Learn to be appreciable in having the right type of service that can help your cause.

When you are in deep trouble and nowhere to go, the legal advisor and advocates can construct the right path for you. Your legal situation must be expertly provisioned within the scope of the law. All the finer details must be effectively presented that can reinforce your case. An excellent legal assistance helps the client to toughen up in facing any outcome. The court will look for approval of your innocence through the eyes of law. The eyes that closely monitor your case must be immaculate. Any point missed can be detrimental for your cause. The ability to firmly defend the client is a foremost task of the legal team. The quality of an efficient legal team can be determined by their past record. It can reveal a lot about their ability and skill to offer customized results to their clients.

The possibilities are numerous in law. Ranging from everyday issues to more complicated business situations can be determined by the law. But how will it be resolved and in which capacity? The observation of the different situation and the related awareness of different sensitivities that surround a specific legal situation must be closely studied. Who will carry out the aforementioned activities for you? Your legal advisor and how far the positive outcomes can be established is a matter of observation. As legal advisor and advocates are expert in legal matters therefore they will establish the pragmatic parameters for your legal case to fortify your claim in dealing with varying situations. Relive the realities of life with the support of a professional legal team. In life many situations are uncalled for; you need to make necessary adjustments to shun away unnecessary circumstances.

This fall our family signed up with a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. I am thrilled as this is something I have longed to do for some time.

In the last 20 years CSA’s have become very popular. CSA’s provide an excellent way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Participating in CSA farming is simple: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the general public. Generally, a “share” consists of a medium size box of vegetables but other products may be included as well such as fruits, eggs, milk, cheese, honey and/or maple syrup. Consumers who want to partake simply purchase a share (sometimes referred to as a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce. While this practice itself is simple, the impact has been monument us. Thousands of families have CSAs throughout the country. In many areas, there is a more of a demand than there are CSAs to fill it. Some CSAs are finding themselves resorting to waiting lists.  It has been estimated that currently the United States alone is home to over 4,000 CSA farms.

Advantages for Consumers

The advantages for consumers are numerous!

• Uber-fresh fruit and veggies packed full of rich vitamins and nutrients
• Exposure to new vegetables, new products and new recipes
• Farm visits
• Children and adults alike suddenly preferring “their” farms products, even veggies previously undiscovered
• Developing a relationship with your local farmer
• Educational aspects regarding food, growing and a working farm just to name a few points.
• No need to have the space for a garden in order to enjoy fresh produce
• No experience necessary
• Knowing exactly where your food comes from
• Teaching he kids were your food comes from and how to help produce it
• Lower prices
• A wide variety of produce
• The ability to request something extra or not to receive something else
• Extra produce to freeze and can, thereby redoing the grocery bill even after the season.
• Advantages for Farmers
• The advantages for farmers who choose to offer CSA shares are abundant.
• Allowed to focus on marketing the food early in the year long before the long days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season which allows for better planning and cash flow
• Supporting local economies
• Shared risk regarding each crop’s yield
• An opportunity to get to know the people who they feed
• The joy of participating in sustainable farming/harvesting while still making a living
• The ability to teach others about where their food comes from.

Variations

It is important to note that each farm is slightly different. Some farms utilize a “mix and match” or “market-style” CSA. Here, consumers would not simply be picking up a standard box each week; they instead load their own boxes with a certain amount of personal discretion.  The farmer lays out baskets of each week’s ripened vegetables. On some farms, the consumers are asked to take a prescribed amount and leave behaving what their families do not care for. Many times this extra produce is sold at farmers markets, roadside stands, or donated to local food banks. At other farms the members have a wider choice to opt for what pleases their family, often within specific limitations (I.e. “one basket of raspberries per share, please”). Furthermore, while some farmers sell shares for a whole year at a time, other’s offers 10 week, or 25 week intervals. Some farmers require members to complete a certain number of “work” hours while others do not require this at all. Nearly all farmers offer farm pick up (which in my opinion is the fun part of the CSA experience), some also offer drop off/pick up locations and/or home delivery.

Remember that CSAs are not solely about vegetables. Many have options for shareholders to buy eggs, homemade bread, meat, cheese, fruit, flowers, honey, maple syrup and other farm products as well as their vegetables. In some areas farmers are coming together to offer their products together.  For example one CSA vegetable and honey farm may allow another chicken farmer to use their CSA as a drop off point thereby allowing CSA members to purchase chickens when they come to pick up their share. Other farms are streamlining their farm into one specific area only. Still other non-farming third parties are setting up CSA-like businesses, where they sell boxes of local food to their members only and are essentially middle men.

Shared Risk

One of the most important concepts of the CSA arraignment is the premise of shared risk. When CSAs first began this notion of “we’re all in it together” was critical. If the season allowed for apples to be rampant, then the families began not only using the apples as fresh produce but also putting some up for winter; freezing for pies and crisps, juicing, and making homemade apple sauce. If a hail storm depleted all the tomatoes, well, those families could expect very little spaghetti that year. This concept remains. While farmers often have other avenues of marketing their produce through farmers markets, wholesale, and industrial accounts, many still require CSA members to sign a policy indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm is able to produce.

This feeling of shared risk interestingly creates a sense of community among members and between members and the farmer. Together, all the members and the hardworking farmers cheer on the green peppers and watch the onions anxiously. They are excited together, concerned together and triumphant together. Most CSA farmers report feeling a significant responsibility to their members. When specific crops are scant, they ensure that the CSA members have first dibs.

At times however, things do wrong. Hideously, horribly wrong. Sometimes it is understandable; a wretched divorce, sudden death or family tragedy. Othertimes, it may be a renegade, irresponsible farmer or a newbie over his head. With that said there are hundreds of farmers who take pride in their land and farm, you find joy in feeding the member families and who have a grand reputation. There are a few noteworthy tips to avoid any issues. When searching for your new CSA remember:

• Ask around for recommendations.
• Find an established, reputable CSA
• Ensure that all produce being offered is actually from that farm. (Occasionally, new farmers get odd, desperate ideas and bring in produce and “resell”).
• Check contract for hidden fees and to ensure you are comfortable with all fees.
• Visit the farm and see for yourself how the produce is grown, how the animals are kept and the land is treated. Nothing else can be as rewarding or affirming.

Other critical tips for potential CSA members:

• Do not expect all your produce to come from your CSA. While your share will be plenty of produce, it will not be enough. Most CSAs do not provide fruit, and those that do, do so in specific quantities. Furthermore, stables will still need to be bought. Inquire with your farmer before running out the market. Again.
• If you are unfamiliar with eating seasonally, do some research! It will be shocking that the grocery store has tomatoes but yet they don’t ripen until August! Who knew?
• Always inquire about types of produce expected as well as quantities.
• If you are planning on freezing and/or canning for winter, inquire with your farmer. Many times he/she will have a list of individuals seeking extra produce on top of their CSA order.
• Always, always, always remember, refer to and obey all policies.
• Always ask the farmer for references.  If they have plenty of good reports, you are in safe hands.

Joining a CSA can be a rewarding, healthy choice for your family but also for the Earth as well. If you are concerned with Environmental issues, are a proponent for “going local”, are interested in becoming a “localvoire” or just don’t have a green thumb yourself, check into joining a CSA- fresh, local, healthy produce without all the work!

Women particularly are most likely to hang on the truth that they are unaccompanied on this day but then some men might wish they had a special someone to spent the day with also. Though, being unaccompanied on Valentine’s Day alone doesn’t need be such as gloomy day. In this article I will give you a number of tips on how to enjoy Valentine’s Day in spite of you being alone.

Majority of folks in long-distance relationship often find themselves unaccompanied on day such as Valentine’s Day, anniversary or birthday. If you find yourself in a similar situation you will most likely recognize that there are moments when you are spending Valentine’s away from your treasured ones. For instance if either you or your spouse live kilometers apart from each other maybe due to work and are only with each other in the week ends, then you are most likely to be by yourself on Valentine’s Day if it comes during the weekday. on the other hand, there are several means you can use to make this day appear special. For instance, if you realize that you’re going to be unaccompanied on Valentine’s Day, strive to keep yourself active all over the day.

Plan schedules like as pedicure or manicures, run chores or schedule plans to see a pal for lunch or supper. This will assist to keep you from thinking much about the fact that it is Valentine’s Day. You could also formulate plans for the coming weekend before hand so that you have a thing to look ahead to. You might still be solo on Valentine’s Day but if you realize that you will be spending the weekend alone, it will assist you to make this day feel lesser gloomy and will greatly assist you to feel less lonely.

If you are unaccompanied on Valentine’s Day due to the fact that you are not involved in a relation, you could still have a wonderful time on Valentine’s Day. One way of doing of this is to lease several movies and organize for diner from a very good restaurant. Try to make your order from a good restaurant that you’ve always wanted to try out or from a place that you know is exceptionally popular with married couples on Valentine’s Day. This will assist you spice up the day and make it truly special for you and you will probably be less likely to feel like you have been left out of the day’s action. Being alone in Valentines Day doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy a nice meal and have a wonderful night alone.

If you have acquaintances that are single, you could think about hosting singles only bash on Valentine’s Day. You could invite your entire single pals and ask them to come along with someone else who is solo. Your pals and you will have fun spending time together away from the couples who are prone to make Valentine’s Day seem so lonesome for the people who are not involved a relationship. You could even end up meeting somebody wonderful at the Valentine’s Day bash and the following year you won’t be alone on Valentine’s Day. You could even attempt playing match making skits at the bash which motivates the guests to establish rapport with each other. Even if you don’t end up finding somebody great, one of your pals might. Types of games you can play are such as dating game or hunter games which motivate guests to locate other participants who have some interests or character traits.

Lastly, if you are unaccompanied on Valentine’s Day, it is essential to bear in mind it does not signify you will forever be alone. One of the principal mistakes that single people make on Valentine’s Day is spending a lot of time thinking about the holiday. It is very significant to keep in mind that being unaccompanied on Valentine’s Day is not the end of the world. Try to find something to keep yourself busy like going for a manicure, exercise or taking a warm bath. This will assist you to concentrate more on yourself and your good traits than the truth that you don’t have somebody for Valentine’s Day.

Modern mass society presents a sharp contrast, as the young grow up. They are faced with confusions, delays and discontinuities. Adolescents in particular are uncertain about themselves. Some are in conflict with themselves, bewildered an insecure.

Values are usually influenced by the changing philosophical ideologies, cultural and religious perspectives, social, political and geographical conditions. In modern emerging society, there has been a revolutionary change in the field of values due to many factors in addition to the influence of modern culture, industrialization, modernization, urbanization, globalisation and multinationals.

Values are the guiding principles, decisive in day to day behaviors as also is critical life situations. Values are a set bring of principles or standards of behavior. Values are regarded desirable,important and held in high esteem by a particular society in which a person lives.

Value education means inculcating in the children a sense humanism, a deep concern for the well being of others and the nation.This can be accomplished only when we instill in the children a deep feeling of commitment to values that would build this country and bring back to the people pride in work that brings order, security and assured progress.

Value education refers to a programme of planned educational action aimed at the development of value and character. Every action and thought of ours leaves an impression in our mind. These impressions determine in our behavior at a given moment and our responses to a given situation. The sum total of all our impressions is what determines our character. The past has determined the present and even so the present our present thoughts and actions will shape our future. This is a key principle governing personality development. The human values are resolved having lasting impact necessary for bringing about change in thought and conduct, in the 21st century.

“If there is righteousness in the heart there will be beauty in character If there is beauty in character There will be harmony in the home When there is harmony in the home There will be order in the nation When there is order in the nation There will be peace in the world”

At the boyhood state, individual physical development is concerned, during manhood and old age intellectual and spiritual values start dominating the corporal values. Therefore while imparting moral education educators must keep in mind that the young must be educated.

Prizes may be given to the deserving persons for showing honesty, bravery, truth etc. The award should be given during school gathering. Contests may be organized on values of life.

According to Father of Indian Nation M.K.Gandhi

“If wealth is lost nothing is lost”

“If health is lost something is lost”

“If character is lost everything is lost”

Best of all things is character.

Not long ago, I watched that great Hollywood Movie Limitless and it reminded me of a conversation I had last year about what the best definition is for a True Genius. There are many theories on this, and I’ve enjoyed reading Howard Gardner’s stuff, and Dean Simonton’s nearly 300 research papers on the topic of creative genius eminent achievers. One thing that keeps coming back to me, is that someone of superior intellect and genius should be able to be good at many things and score well against all types of intelligence.

Oh, before I go too much farther, here, if you haven’t watched “Limitless” directed by Neil Burger and starring Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Abbie Cornish – you should go see it, and if you were the screen play writer or research team – excellent work, and I thank you for the philosophy and hard work, well done! Okay so, back to what I was saying here, it seems to me that the true genius ought to be able to adapt to anything, and that superior intellect of that kind would show up as the individual tried new things, it would be quickly obvious.

Indeed, I was discussing this with an acquaintance in India, a borderline creative genius himself, and he stated; “I agree, to a certain extent, that when you focus on a particular field of education or sport, your brain adapts to it. However, there are some cases where this does not take place.”

He gave an example of super brilliant student of his, one who was very devout and had memorized huge portions of his religious book, and yet, was unable to adapt to new things outside of school work.

Interestingly enough, I guess I’ve never had a problem adapting to anything. Maybe the individual is just unable to adapt, thus, his mind is not developed properly, or the student is not a true genius? Or maybe he bows and prays five-times per day to his god and thus, all that rocking motion is causing his brain to hit the inside of his skull, causing slight brain damage, thus he is unable to think right anymore? A damaged brain is a real problem, and although the shocks running through the brain from those motions helps in rote memorization, that brain cannot adapt, reason, or think as well as the mind of a true genius.

We then discussed Picasso and Einstein, and how great they were in their own fields and yet, would either of them have been able to swap places and do as well? My acquaintance noted; “Perhaps Picasso might understand Einstein’s field quicker than some others. I really cannot say because even though Picasso was a creative genius in the field of art, perhaps he might not have been in the field of science.”

True enough, but alas we just don’t know that do we? But this is a decent line of thought and debate point. My acquaintance also noted that Einstein and Picasso were both textbook geniuses, “they were geniuses their own field of intelligence but outside those fields generally?” He asks. Well, I bet both in the case of these two gentleman mentioned, I bet either could have mastered the other’s field faster than the average person might.

It’s too bad that we will never know since both gentleman are long gone, and yet, I still have a sneaky suspicion that the true genius is the one who can adapt to any situation and can use their mind in many different ways, as needed. Please consider all this and give it some “limitless” thought.

With a rock solid credit history, you can successfully apply for personal loans and expect a swift processing of the same for meeting temporary financial glitch in life. Personal loans are all-purpose loans that can be availed as secured or unsecured loans. These can be used for multiple reasons and the purpose need not be disclosed ever to the lender.

The interest rate of loan depends on the tenure and credit score of the borrower. These can be drawn for a few months to several years as per your requirement.

5 situations when you can use personal loans as a smart financial move:

1. When you have immediate cash needs: It is practical to use short-term personal loans to bridge the shortage of funds in your life. You can use the funds to support any of the sudden cash emergencies like medical expenses, home repair or funding a foreign trip. The purpose of loan doesn’t affect its interest rate, however your income and duration of loan does. All you need here in a planning stage is to have a strong back up plan for repaying the loan. The repayment will improve your credit score and add to your future worth at the same time.
2. To avoid bad credit situation: In case you have lost a job or face a sudden spurt of personal expenses such as a wedding or some other expense in your life, you can take recourse on personal loans. Bad credit is a situation you should always avoid. If you have shortage of funds, rather than missing a loan repayment you can borrow some funds. The idea is to not let the score fall for temporary financial challenges.
3. Consolidate multiple payments: When you have multiple payments to be made every month, it is better to simplify the process by consolidating the loan into one personal loan. By consolidating loans, you just have to pay a single repayment and that will pay for other loans. Availing short-term loans for bad credit is a practical means to mend mounting debts and save a financial mess.
4. Additional funding for students: Being a student it is not always easy to keep a track on your expenses. Sometimes you need funds for reasons that your education loan misses to pay for. Herein you can apply for short-term loans for students as these are readily available. The short-term loan can also be used as a right way for building a good history.
5. Business funding: Every new start-up or a business entity needs positive inflows. You need to maintain adequate supply of funds for maintaining sound terms with your suppliers and business associates. The short-term personal loans can be used as business loans to keep the flexibility of operations in your business.

In all of the above cases, personal loans can be used to better manage your finances. However it is prudent that you carefully read terms and conditions of a loan agreement and do not sign a very expensive loan. In case you find yourself unable to make a mind on the loan terms, you should contact a loan broker for a financial advice. He would guide you on the ways to manage your funds and keep your credit score healthy.

First and foremost you’ll want to understand your dog’s needs and your desires. From here we can determine the course of action that will be needed. There are a few things that are certain when training. To begin with you need to let them know “who’s boss”, because if you don’t they will surely take over. One way of doing this is to turn your back and ignore your dog if it likes to jump on you for attention. Once they stop you may turn around and praise them for stopping, either with words or a treat. Never overreact either way.

Another thing for certain is your dog has “needs”. Is your dog seeking attention or maybe he or she needs to go “potty”? Ignoring these will cause you as the owner problems. When trying to “potty” train a puppy it will take time and patience. Put yourself in your dog’s position. When you drink a lot of liquids you’ll need to use the bathroom. The same applies for your dog but they will go at lease twice as much as you do, which is where a lot of owners fall short. A puppy can go every hour or so, and after about four months old they can go once every two to three hours.

These are only some “general rules” that may apply to you. Again, different breeds may require different tactics. A pug will not train the same as a Labrador, nor will they have the same needs, and your wants will also vary. Is your dog a family pet, guard dog or hunter? All of these will make a difference when training. Most importantly, you need to remember that your dog has feelings. They need attention and LOVE. Show your dog attention and love and they will become less needy and more loving.

An enterprise can initiate a Hi-Spot review project in response to events, ideas, and activities when immediate action is necessary. A Hi-Spot review is a mini strategic plan for opportunities and threats, and may result in new initiatives or enhancements and modifications to existing plans. It is conducted within the context of a current strategic plan. Hence, assumptions for values, guiding principles, mission, vision, and other strategic statements are upheld, unless there is a good reason for change.

Events, ideas, and activities…

In the ideal world, there would be ample time to develop well crafted strategic plans that address both long-term aspirations and short-term vision offensively. In the real world, pressures from unanticipated events and changes in competitive, economic, environmental, political, regulatory, social, and technological trends can have an adverse impact on strategy. As a consequence, prompt defensive repositioning, restructuring, or reengineering activities may be necessary to respond to current threats, and to enable future offensive opportunities. Workouts, turnarounds, and profit improvement programs may be necessary to provide more general longer-term solutions.

Breakthrough ideas can arise at any time from an entrepreneur who starts an enterprise, or from any individual within, whether an executive, an intrapreneur, or an employee-at-large. A breakthrough idea overcomes an obstacle and allows for more progress in a specialty area. A breakthrough idea provides a new source of opportunity or response to a threat. Ideas can arise in any activity including planning and policy setting in the board room, research and development in the laboratory, sales in the field, production in the plant, and performance measurement in an executive’s office. Ideas can also arise from constituencies including employees through suggestion programs, and customers, suppliers, investors, regulators, competitors, and the community-at-large through listening posts. Ideas from constituencies have merit because they provide feedback to the management of the enterprise.

A review can be initiated at any time on an ad-hoc basis to determine the scope and impact of events and new ideas on research, development, sales, and production activities. In this context, the term “ad hoc” means that the review is focused on solving a specific problem. However, sometimes the term connotes an improvised solution without proper planning, which can often lead to more problems over time. Whereas a Hi-Spot review may address the consequences of improvisation, it should avoid creating such problems in the future.

Examples of activities that benefit from a Hi-Spot review include:

• Responding to new entrants in existing markets
• Responding to unexpected decreases in revenue or increases in costs and expenses
• Beginning a new business relationship, such as a merger or acquisition with a peer or competitor, or a venture with customer or supplier
• Implementing total quality management initiatives
• Implementing organizational design initiatives
• Outsourcing processes and functions
• Determining “mid-course corrections” to existing projects

These activities can lead to repositioning, restructuring, reengineering, workout, turnaround, and profit improvement programs as defined by a Hi-Spot review.

External events and breakthrough ideas can be quite disruptive to plans and programs that are already in place. However, plans are living documents. Ideas that merit further analysis can be examined in research and development activities, and implemented in sales and production. However, it may not be prudent to ignore the impact of ideas on strategy until the next planning cycle, especially if market share or profits are at risk.

Phasing…

Hi-Spot reviews are conducted in two phases – quick situation assessment and project definition. A project definition follows a quick situation assessment, but can be initiated in its own right for breakthrough ideas.

A quick situation assessment is often necessary because the enterprise has delayed taking remedial action and has reached a “pain point” that requires an immediate prescription. The delay can be as a consequence of fear to act or hope that conditions will improve. In addition to a follow on from a quick situation assessment, a project definition is necessary for breakthrough ideas that offer a sustainable advantage for which an immediate benefit can be realized. If responses to these ideas are not being addressed elsewhere in current plans and programs, then a project definition should be initiated.

The output from a Hi-Spot review is one or more well defined implementation projects. The rigor of the project management discipline should assure that results are realized during implementation, are focused, and are not improvised. Activities that are initiated in the implementation projects may be integrated with others in research, development, sales, and production over time.

Quick situation assessment…

The purpose of the quick situation assessment is determine a recommended solution and action plan to an immediate problem. It is best to employ a self-directed cross-functional team with a facilitator. The facilitator suggests problem solving approaches; however, the team finalizes them based upon their background and experience. The facilitator provides mentoring and coaching throughout the review.

Elements of a 10 step group problem solving approach include:

1. Summarizing the current situation and determining what complicates it
2. Framing the problem with facts and supporting evidence, and investigating the causes and effects
3. Developing alternative solution hypotheses – testable statements with predictions, projections, and forecasts
4. Developing the approach to the situation and gap analysis
5. Gathering the data
6. Structuring the results
7. Proving or disproving the solution hypotheses
8. Formulating the best solution based upon findings and conclusions
9. Developing alternative courses of action to implement the best solution
10. Presenting the best recommended solution and action plan

In performing the situation and gap analysis, topics to address include:

• External – competitive, economic, environmental, political, regulatory, social, and technological trends
• Internal – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• Gaps – where the enterprise is and where it needs to be with respect to its constituencies: employees, customers, suppliers, investors, regulators, competitors, and the community-at-large

Since the situation and gap analysis is performed within the context of the existing strategic plan, other elements of strategy formulation are not addressed unless there is a good reason to do so.

A funnel approach should be used to drill down from the general landscape to specific issues and to prioritize them accordingly. The funnel approach starts with first asking open-ended questions to principals and constituencies, and then as the problem is identified, using specific questions to narrow the scope of the analysis. The approach includes employing the nominal group problem solving technique, triaging the problem and solutions, and applying the Pareto principle to prioritize ideas, issues, options, and recommendations.

The nominal group technique is a method of building consensus in face-to-face meetings with each member participating equally as follows:

• Allowing participants the opportunity to write their ideas on paper
• Allowing each participant to read their ideas to the team, which are then recorded on charts
• Enabling the leader to discuss each idea when all have been recorded, and to clarify open points
• Enabling the participants to vote for three to five ideas that have been recorded on the charts
• Prioritizing the list of ideas according to the votes
• Reviewing and summarizing the priorities collectively by the team

Triage is a technique used by healthcare service providers to prioritize procedures on patients based upon severity of condition. The technique can be applied by enterprises for problems and solutions associated with processes, functions, products and/or services, markets, and constituencies, and involves assigning three levels of priority:

• Highest priority – most critical or highest probability of return
• Medium priority – next most critical or medium probability of return
• Low priority – least critical or lowest probability of return

The percentage weightings may vary according to circumstances, but a common starting point is “20-70-10” from highest to lowest.

The Pareto Principle is also known as the “80/20” rule – 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes. It provides a useful mindset for making tough decisions and setting priorities.

The drill down can be conducted within the context of the framework for building sustainable advantage. The framework for building sustainable advantage is a fundamental tool for establishing the mindset and actions required to transform vision into value on an ongoing basis within an environment of change – either by causing it or responding to it.

Building sustainable advantage requires:

• Establishing the governance disciplines of stewardship, strategy, and structure required to form a vision based upon innovative ideas, to enact change, and to deliver value through…
• …the capabilities of people, processes and functions, and products and/or services to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace…
• …and the effective utilization of natural, human, intellectual, and financial capital resources to provide a strong foundation for all activities

If necessary, further due diligence may be necessary that examines the current position and relationships of the enterprise before the recommended solution can be enacted. If detailed implementation plans are required, the action plan can be expanded in a project definition.

The key success factor in a quick situation assessment is to establish a facilitated process that encourages involvement, but is not bureaucratic.

Project definition…

The purpose of a project definition is to set direction for implementation in terms of scope, objectives, deliverables, resources, and schedule with both short and long-term components as necessary. Some short-term activities may be expendable in the long-term, but are required in order to realize benefits quickly.

A project definition is a follow-on to a quick situation assessment to develop detailed implementation plans. It can also be initiated in its own right for a breakthrough idea. A project manager is either appointed or emerges, and is supported by a cross-functional team. Some team members assigned to the quick situation assessment may continue through the project definition, and others with implementation experience may be added.

The project definition develops plans in sufficient detail so that downstream research and development activities, including analysis, design, construction, implementation, enhancement, and maintenance can be conducted. These activities may have to be prioritized against existing ones. If necessary, the scope, objectives, deliverables, resources, and schedule of existing projects may have to be adjusted. However, caution is warranted to ensure that the latest project does not get the highest priority unnecessarily at the expense of other projects.

The output of a project definition, which embellishes the output from a quick situation assessment if there was one, includes:

• Understanding the problem (situation, complication, problem statement, solution description)
• Scope and objectives
• Approach
• Deliverables including a plan for the next phase of work
• Work plan (work breakdown structure, resource requirements, schedule)
• Governance (project manager, steering committee, standards for performance and measurement)
• Next steps

Once the decision has been made to go ahead, one or more implementation projects are executed with an emphasis on getting results quickly.

Key success factor…

It is important that the follow-on activities from the project definition be monitored with milestones and progress reporting. It is easy to lose control of such activities if they are not properly monitored, especially if new opportunities and threats subsequently arise. Therefore, enterpriship (entrepreneurship, leadership, management) competencies are necessary to assure success.