Bulletproof Problem Solving

"Problem solving is the core skill for the twenty-first century. Now, finally, we have a guide to doing it right that any of us can follow."-Dominic Barton, Global Managing Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company PRAISE FOR BULLETPROOF PROBLEM SOLVING "We always hired for creative problem solving talent above all else; these guys have cracked the code on a replicable approach for problems large and small. Learn it, practice it!"-Eric Schmidt, Former Chairman and CEO, Google; Visiting Innovation Fellow, MIT "Together Charles and Rob have taken problem solving out of the business school classroom and into real life, where it belongs. Utilizing 30 cases, these masters of the art have something to teach all of us."-James Gorman, Chairman and CEO, Morgan Stanley "As a former policymaker who argues for moving beyond policy to the broader enterprise of public problem solving, I welcome this volume! The techniques and insights apply, with various modifications, to problems everywhere: personal, professional, public and private, local, national and global."-Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America, Former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State "Disruption in today's business environment puts problem solving at the top of every leader's challenges. But how? This engaging book puts together a McKinsey team's scientific seven-step approach. From taking a problem apart to rearranging its pieces, to framing it so its solution can be seen, the book presents a must-read analysis for executives and social sector leaders. It excites both the reader's mind and the possibilities for project teams.-Glenn Hubbard, Dean and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School 7 straightforward steps to solving any problem with creativity and rigor Complex problem solving is the core skill for twenty-first century teams. It's the only way to keep up with rapid change. Winning organizations now rely on nimble, iterative problem solving, rather than traditional planning processes. In this book you'll learn the seven-step systematic approach to creative problem solving that will work in any field or industry. It employs a highly visual, logic-tree method that can be applied to any problem, from strategic business decisions to global social challenges. Charles and Rob, with decades of experience at McKinsey & Company and other institutions, provide a toolkit with 30 detailed real-world examples, so you can see exactly how the technique works in action.