The REASON based approach to problem-solving:

     (Recognize, Establish, Acquire, Select, Own, iNvestigate)

1. Recognize the Problem (What appears to be the problem initially)

2. Establish the Issue  (What is the root cause of the problem)

3. Acquire and Assess Possible Solutions (Create multiple solution options and note their merits and  shortcomings. You can set an agreed upon CTQ set of parameters as a guideline for this step - this prevents you from getting wacky suggestions.)

4. Select the Best, after Eliminating inferior solutions (Use your  CTQ process  parameters to pick the solution that  optimizes efficiency. You may find the best option will significantly change your current work flow)

5. Own your Solution and Implement it (By getting staff to come up with their own solution,  you'll find it much easier to convince them  to apply it. I reward employees for solutions that boost efficiency and I penalize them for coming up with a solution they don't use.)

6. INvestigate the Success of your Solution and repeat the process if necessary

Each department lead is responsible for maintaining their department's policy and integrating these new solutions into their workflow. About 1/2 a year, I recommend stepping back and evaluating the overall workflow of each department in order to make sure the workflow is not unwieldy and inefficient. Sometimes multiple incremental changes can create a beasty process flow and stepping back will enable you to think through the big picture of each department's activities and evaluate whether a more elegant process is needed.

Regardless, having a team that learns together and solves problems as part of it's work responsibilities is sure to give your company a competitive advantage and take a huge work load off of management.

Thanks and Best Regards,

R.C.Sukhtankar