We have categorized 4 documents as Problem Management. All documents are displayed on this page.

As Norbert Strecker, the Solutions Design Director at BMC, once stated, "Problem Management is more about solving recurring issues rather than focusing on isolated incidents." From boardrooms to meeting rooms, the quest for effective Problem Management resounds as a critical function in the organizational ecosystem. Mastery in resolving issues is inseparable from success, especially in the unpredictable dynamics of the business landscape.Learn more about Problem Management.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.


Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab




Read Customer Testimonials

  •  
    "Flevy is now a part of my business routine. I visit Flevy at least 3 times each month.

    Flevy has become my preferred learning source, because what it provides is practical, current, and useful in this era where the business world is being rewritten.

    In today's environment where there are so "

    – Omar Hernán Montes Parra, CEO at Quantum SFE
  •  
    "As a consultant requiring up to date and professional material that will be of value and use to my clients, I find Flevy a very reliable resource.

    The variety and quality of material available through Flevy offers a very useful and commanding source for information. Using Flevy saves me time, enhances my expertise and ends up being a good decision."

    – Dennis Gershowitz, Principal at DG Associates
  •  
    "[Flevy] produces some great work that has been/continues to be of immense help not only to myself, but as I seek to provide professional services to my clients, it give me a large "tool box" of resources that are critical to provide them with the quality of service and outcomes they are expecting."

    – Royston Knowles, Executive with 50+ Years of Board Level Experience
  •  
    "FlevyPro provides business frameworks from many of the global giants in management consulting that allow you to provide best in class solutions for your clients."

    – David Harris, Managing Director at Futures Strategy
  •  
    "My FlevyPro subscription provides me with the most popular frameworks and decks in demand in today’s market. They not only augment my existing consulting and coaching offerings and delivery, but also keep me abreast of the latest trends, inspire new products and service offerings for my practice, and educate me "

    – Bill Branson, Founder at Strategic Business Architects
  •  
    "The wide selection of frameworks is very useful to me as an independent consultant. In fact, it rivals what I had at my disposal at Big 4 Consulting firms in terms of efficacy and organization."

    – Julia T., Consulting Firm Owner (Former Manager at Deloitte and Capgemini)
  •  
    "As a young consulting firm, requests for input from clients vary and it's sometimes impossible to provide expert solutions across a broad spectrum of requirements. That was before I discovered Flevy.com.

    Through subscription to this invaluable site of a plethora of topics that are key and crucial to consulting, I "

    – Nishi Singh, Strategist and MD at NSP Consultants
  •  
    "Flevy is our 'go to' resource for management material, at an affordable cost. The Flevy library is comprehensive and the content deep, and typically provides a great foundation for us to further develop and tailor our own service offer."

    – Chris McCann, Founder at Resilient.World



Flevy Management Insights: Problem Management

As Norbert Strecker, the Solutions Design Director at BMC, once stated, "Problem Management is more about solving recurring issues rather than focusing on isolated incidents." From boardrooms to meeting rooms, the quest for effective Problem Management resounds as a critical function in the organizational ecosystem. Mastery in resolving issues is inseparable from success, especially in the unpredictable dynamics of the business landscape.

Unlike Incident Management that confronts isolated occurrences, Problem Management unmasks underlying glitches that trigger these incidents. It's a strategic operation focusing on identifying and eliminating root causes thus reducing the likelihood of recurring issues. But, how can we navigate successful Problem Management?

For effective implementation, take a look at these Problem Management best practices:

Explore related management topics: Incident Management

Embrace a Proactive Approach

In a recent advisory report, McKinsey explained that "the best problem management strategy is a proactive one" –applying preventative measures before issues mushroom into full-scale complications. This involves consistently analyzing data for trends and patterns, which may reveal latent problems before they escalate. The proactive approach offers substantial savings in costs and resources, demonstrating a keen awareness of the strategic performance of a company.

  • Implement Regular Audits - Regular audits can shed light on repetitive issues and source their root causes.
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) - Proper RCA has the power to sieve out the primary source of consistent challenges, thus addressing problems with precise solutions.
  • Continual Service Improvement (CSI) - CSI promotes a culture of constant assessment and improvement, illuminating potential problem areas ahead of time.

Explore related management topics: Root Cause Analysis

Invest in the Right Tools

Navigating the complex world of Problem Management requires investing in the right tools. Make use of existing technologies that provide analytics and insights. According to Gartner, leading firms in Risk Management and Operational Excellence leverage technology for a more streamlined, efficient Problem Management process.

  • Incident Auto-detection Tools - These abort potential system failures detected from unusual patterns and trends.
  • Data Analytics Platforms - Data-rich analytics offer insights into your operations, revealing issues and suggesting informed, strategic decisions.

Explore related management topics: Operational Excellence Risk Management Data Analytics Analytics

Promote and Enable Cross-Functional Collaboration

Problem Management isn't exclusive to IT – it traverses all the functional areas of a business. As the Boston Consulting Group suggests, promoting a culture of collaboration ignites the infusion of different perspectives, leading to more robust solutions. To this effect, implementing a holistic approach to Problem Management necessitates:

  • Cross-Functional Teams - Assemble a diverse team across departments to harness a broader understanding and effective solution generation.
  • Culture of Collaboration - Establishing open communication lines for seamless collaboration is pivotal in dealing with complex, deep-rooted problems.

Cultivate Learning and Development

The drive towards successful Problem Management equals a journey into continuous learning. McKinsey opines that companies embracing a learning culture are superior at resolving strategic and operational issues. Businesses should thus:

  • Develop a Knowledge Management Strategy - A comprehensive knowledge strategy aids in solving similar future problems through reference to past experiences.
  • Training and Development - Regular training sessions are crucial for keeping up-to-date methods, practices, and tools in Problem Management.

Explore related management topics: Knowledge Management

Track and Measure

Lastly, tracking progress and measuring outcomes form a core part of the Problem Management process. Metrics provide a visible measure of progress and highlight areas for improvement. Reputable consulting firms like Bain & Company emphasize the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in driving productivity. When applied to Problem Management, KPIs like the number of problems identified, time to resolve, and impact severity are essential.

As leaders in Fortune 500 companies implement Problem Management practices, let’s remember the words of Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, who reminded us that “good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” It's also pertinent to note, that this journey includes managing and solving problems decisively in a strategic way.

Explore related management topics: Key Performance Indicators

Problem Management FAQs

Here are our top-ranked questions that relate to Problem Management.

What role does leadership play in ensuring the success of a problem management initiative, and how can leaders be more effectively engaged?
Leadership is crucial in Problem Management initiatives, ensuring Strategic Alignment, driving Change Management, overcoming resistance, and fostering a culture of Continuous Improvement for organizational success. [Read full explanation]
How can companies effectively balance the cost of implementing advanced problem management tools against the expected ROI?
Organizations must strategically align the implementation of advanced problem management tools with their broader objectives, conduct thorough cost-benefit analyses, and learn from real-world examples to ensure investments contribute to long-term success. [Read full explanation]
How can organizations measure the effectiveness of their problem management processes in a way that directly correlates to business outcomes?
Organizations can measure problem management effectiveness by defining relevant KPIs, leveraging advanced analytics, and promoting a Continuous Improvement culture, aligning efforts with Operational Efficiency, Customer Satisfaction, and Financial Performance. [Read full explanation]
In what ways can cross-functional collaboration be enhanced to ensure more effective problem identification and resolution processes?
Improving cross-functional collaboration involves Strategic Planning, promoting Open Communication, and leveraging Technology to streamline processes, thereby boosting problem-solving effectiveness and driving Operational Excellence. [Read full explanation]

Recommended Documents

Related Case Studies

Problem Management Initiative for Ecommerce in Competitive Digital Marketplace

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized ecommerce player specializing in consumer electronics with a global customer base.

Read Full Case Study

Inventory Management Enhancement for Food & Beverage Distributor in North America

Scenario: The organization in question operates within the competitive North American food and beverage industry, distributing products to a variety of retail outlets.

Read Full Case Study

Incident Response Enhancement for a Maritime Freight Carrier

Scenario: The organization, a global maritime freight carrier, is confronted with escalating incident rates impacting its fleet operations.

Read Full Case Study

Luxury Brand Digital Transformation Strategy

Scenario: The organization in question operates within the luxury goods sector and is grappling with antiquated Problem Management processes that are not in line with the fast-paced digital world.

Read Full Case Study

Problem Management Revitalization for Industrial Manufacturing Firm

Scenario: An industrial manufacturing firm specializing in aerospace components is struggling with an inefficient Problem Management system, which has led to increased downtime and customer dissatisfaction.

Read Full Case Study

Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies




Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.