Problem Solving in Organizations(ISBN=9780521869768)

　　This concise introduction to the methodology of Business Problem Solving (BPS) is an indispensable guide to the design and execution of practical projects in real organizational settings. The methodology is both result-oriented and theory-based, encouraging students to use the knowledge gained on their disciplinary courses, and showing them how to do so in a fuzzy, ambiguous and politically charged real life business context. The book provides in-depth discussion of the various steps in the process of business problem solving. Rather than presenting the methodology as a recipe to be followed, the authors demonstrate how to adapt the approach to specific situations and to be flexible in scheduling the work at various steps in the process. It will be indispensable to MBA students who are undertaking their own field work.
　　? Written by experienced teachers on the MBA programme at a leading European technological university ? Many examples of real-life problem solving help students to apply the general methodology to their specific problems ? Gives students a structured approach to business problem solving without forcing them into a rigid scheme

List of figures page ix
List of boxes x
Preface xi
Part I   Fundamentals
　1   Scope and nature of this handbook
   1.1   Objectives and target audience
   1.2   Design-focused and theory-based business problem-solving
   1.3   How to use this handbook
　2   Problem-solving projects in organizations
   2.1   The nature of business problem-solving projects
   2.2   The basic setup of a problem-solving project
   2.3   Quality criteria for problem-solving projects
　3   Design-focused business problem-solving
   3.1   Introduction
   3.2   Characteristics of design-focused business problem-solving
   3.3   Problem-solving strategies
   3.4   Choosing a problem-solving strategy
   3.5   Designs and designing
   3.6   Designing social systems
   3.7   Paradigmatic starting points
　4   Theory-based business problem-solving
   4.1   Theory-based problem analysis and solution design
   4.2   Solution concepts for business problem-solving
   4.3   Developing knowledge for business problem-solving
Part II   The problem-solving project
　5   Intake and orientation
   5.1   General setup
   5.2   The intake process
   5.3   The orientation process
   5.4   Describing the problem context
   5.5   Problem definition
   5.6   Assignment and deliverables
   5.7   Project approach
   5.8   Project costs and organization
   5.9   Problem-solving projects in different formats
   5.10   Example
　6   Theory-based diagnosis of business problems
   6.1   Introduction
   6.2   Empirical exploration and validation of the business problem and its causes
   6.3   Theoretical analysis
   6.4   Process-oriented analysis
   6.5   The diagnostic story
   6.6   Alternative approaches
   6.7   Final remarks
　7   Solution design
   7.1   Introduction
   7.2   The deliverables of the problem-solving project
   7.3   The design process
   7.4   Solution design
   7.5   Solution justification
   7.6   Solution design: the International Imaging Systems case
　8   Change plan design and the actual change process
   8.1   The timing of change plan design
   8.2   Change plan design
   8.3   The change process
   8.4   Change plan design: the International Imaging Systems case
   8.5   Change plan design: the importance of developing organizational support
　9   Evaluation, reflection and termination
   9.1   Introduction
   9.2   Project-oriented evaluation
   9.3   Learning for the future
   9.4   Scientific reflection
   9.5   Personal and professional development
   9.6   Project termination and reporting
Part III   On methods
　10   Qualitative research methods
   10.1   Qualitative versus quantitative
   10.2   Unit of analysis
   10.3   Case selection
   10.4   Qualitative data collection methods
   10.5   Qualitative methods of analysis
   10.6   Selecting a method
　11   Searching and using scholarly literature
   11.1   Introduction
   11.2   Types of publications
   11.3   Focusing a literature review
   11.4   Searching literature
   11.5   Integrating ideas and findings
　12   Quality criteria for research
   12.1   Introduction
   12.2   Controllability
   12.3   Reliability
   12.4   Validity
   12.5   Recognition of results
   12.6   Concluding remarks
Part IV   Conclusion
　13   Concluding remarks
References
Index