Businesses exist essentially to solve problems. The internal and the external conditions of a business depend on the sophistication of the problem-solving methods adopted in the management of the business. Hence, it is often thought that problem-solving is an integral part of business management.

Problem solving is defined as involving ‘’logical and systematic approach to defining the problem, generating solutions, and then choosing and implementing the best option’’. Problem solving skills and processes are designed to prevent or overcome difficulties needed to improve during stable periods.

An effective problem-solving is one that informs a realistic and sustainable solution. However, there are key things to put into consideration before moving to solve a problem. Without this, a problem solving effort may go wrong or even complicate the existing problems.

You need to ask and ascertain if there is a problem at all in order to avoid investing your resources and time on a needless course. This could be done by doing the following:

1. Putting your observation to further analysis to identify a probable cause of the problem
2. Tracing the problem down to specific context, such as asking what, who, when, where and how.
3. Creating an environment where problems are openly acknowledged and discussed
4. Creating an environment that preempt difficulties before they develop into crisis
5. Understanding the resources available at your disposal and how best they can be deployed in the course of problem solving.

Some Problem-solving techniques

There are various problem-solving techniques that you can adopt depending on the context and the nature of the problems to be solved. They are discussed as follows:

Cause and effect Analysis

For every effect there is a cause. Therefore, cause and effect analysis is the process of analyzing the effects of the problem to identify the actual cause of the problem and how to deal with it. This is also referred to as a diagnostic analysis. For example, Doctors observe the symptoms of the illness to decide what the cause is and so that they could know what treatment to prescribe. Examples of cause and effect analysis are the five whys by Toyoda and the Pareto principle analysis.

Pareto 20-80 percent Principle

This method is based on the assumption that 80 percent of problems are caused by 20 percent of possible factors. Therefore, assessing the trouble-making 20 percent is necessary. This can be useful in organizing the data so that the most significant factors influencing the problems are clearly illustrated. The Pareto 80/20 rule in Problem-solving encompasses four steps which are as follows:

• Identifying the main problem
• Determining the factors causing it and how they do this
• Listing the biggest factors contributing to the problem
• Developing a solution targeting each factor individually

The five whys

This was developed by Sakichi Toyoda in the 1930s and it became popular in the 1970s. It is a method of unearthing the layers of causes until the root cause or centre of gravity of a problem is reached. The five whys method is based on the assumption that by interrogating the apparent answers at each successive level or phase of the analysis, one will have identified the root cause of a problem by the fifth level or phase.

System Thinking

System thinking is the process of inquiry into a problem and solving it from the perspective of the whole or the general system. This method is based on the assumption that nothing exists in isolation, therefore it must be considered in terms of its connection to other things. For example, administrative error in staffing and training could impact sales performance resulting in low liquidity and high turnover induced by poor and inconsistent emolument.

Design thinking

Design thinking is the process of inquiry into problems and solving them from the perspective of the end users. This method is based on the assumption that the product sells because there is a use case for it. Therefore, analysis and solution development must begin from the point where the solution is needed and will be used. Design thinking is an iterative process which includes five stages namely; empathy, defining the problem, ideating, developing the prototype, and testing.

Domain-led Analysis

It is a process of interrogating a complex problem from a field of discipline. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic which is fundamentally a health and pharmaceutical problem had several implications that cut across other aspects of the society including the economy, politics, culture and social relations etc. The complex nature of the problem necessitated its analysis and recommendations to it from different professional fields.

What to avoid when problem solving

Paralysis by analysis. Analyzing and discussing an issue for too long when the time could be cultivated on something else. This is often the case when people become obsessed with the situation, seeking the perfect answers and focussing too much on defensive measures

Hubris. Open-mindedness is an essential way of reaching an effective solution. However, when a problem-solving opportunity is restricted to some set of individuals perhaps because of their positioning in the management structure, the possibility of reaching an effective, comprehensive solution becomes narrow.

Knowing-doing gap. You know exactly what to do but are not doing it, perhaps because you are looking for the right timing or the right resources to execute the plan as conceived.

Resources:

Good Small Business Guide 2012: How Start and Grow Your Own Business

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said the bloc has agreed on an undisclosed date to send troops to Niger Republic if dialogue with the military junta fails to restore the democratic government of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, made the announcement at the end of the meeting of West African army chiefs in Accra on Friday.

“We’ve already agreed and fine tuned what will be required for the intervention,” he said.

“All member states of ECOWAS present here today have all committed elements, they have committed their own equipment, they have committed their own resources to undertake this mission, so I tell you we are ready to go anytime the order is given.”

ECOWAS members have been coordinating a possible armed intervention aimed at reversing the coup in Niger. The bloc said most of its 15 member states are willing to contribute to the joint force, except for countries under military rule – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – and Cape Verde.

“The D-day is also decided,” Musah added.

He stated that while “all options are on the table” including mediation and sanctions, ECOWAS will not hold an “endless dialogue,” reiterating the bloc’s determination to restore constitutional order in Niger.

“We want to get back to constitutional normalcy, and the decision is that the coup in Niger is one coup too many for the region, and we are putting a stop to it at this time, and we are drawing the line in the sand,” he said.

In response to this announcement, Burkina Faso and Mali have reportedly deployed warplanes to Niger. The two West African countries, which are also under military rule, have pledged allegiance to the Niger coupists, vowing to resist any attempt by ECOWAS to restore a democratic government.

“The disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger could destabilize the entire region,” the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali said in a joint statement broadcast on Niger’s national television.

According to the television station, the military leaders from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened Friday in the Nigerien capital Niamey to decide on “concrete measures” in case ECOWAS chooses to “escalate a war.”

Also, thousands of people lined up outside the main stadium in Niamey on Saturday to register as volunteer fighters or to help with other needs in case the junta in Niger requires support against a possible military intervention by regional countries, according to a video posted by VoA.

Thousands of people lined up outside the main stadium in Niamey on Saturday to register as volunteer fighters or to help with other needs in case the junta in Niger requires support against a possible military intervention by regional countries. (AP) pic.twitter.com/VQ3uagLU81

— Voice of America (@VOANews) August 19, 2023

Since July 26, when the Niger military junta led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, overthrew the democratic government of President Bazoum, all efforts by ECOWAS to restore constitutional order have failed.

The expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued on July 30 to the coupists by the bloc’s leaders gave rise to the push for military intervention, which they said is the last resort.

With diplomacy failing, all parties are gearing up for a possible military action, which has been largely opposed, mainly because of its potential to escalate the humanitarian crisis in northern Nigeria and Niger.

The United Nations (UN) has once again urged Niger’s military authorities to promptly restore the elected government of President Bazoum.

“The people have already been through so much hardship over the years, now; the very people they elected to build a pathway to end their destitution have been removed by force against the constitutional order and detained by the coup leaders. They must be released at once and democracy restored,” Spokeswoman for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said in a statement.

GDP per capita (i.e. gross domestic product divided by total population) is the most efficient way of measuring productivity in economies. It indicates a nation’s standard of living (think of what everyone will get if the whole “wealth” of a nation is shared equally). Here is how Africa stands, using 2022 data, courtesy of Nairametrics:

Africa – $2,705

#1: Seychelles – $15,875

#2: Mauritius – $10,216

#3: Gabon – $8,820

#4: Botswana – $7,738

#5 Equatorial Guinea – $7,053

#6: South Africa – $6,776

#7: Libya – $6,716

#8: Namibia – $4,911

#9: Egypt – $4,295

#10: Algeria – $4,274

#18: Nigeria – $2,184

Indeed, Nigeria is even below the African mean. We’re really a poor country despite what many of us think. Private jets, big suits, etc cannot hide the fact. Conclusion: Nigerians must get to work!

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Comment 1: A comparison of OPEC countries using price per litre of petrol versus their respective per capita income. Among the 13 OPEC member States, the price per litre of petrol goes from $0.004 in Venezuela to $1.386 in Equatorial Guinea. The per capita income goes from a low of $2184 for Nigeria and a maximum of $53,758 for UAE.

Based on what I would call “petrol access” for people in each of the 13 OPEC countries, I divided the per capita income by the price per litre in each country to get the quantity of petrol or number of litres which the income can purchase.

Congo came out with the lowest of 2007 litres followed by Nigeria with 2703 litres. Venezuela came out with the highest of about 4 million litres. The five countries with the lowest access to petrol (Congo, Nigeria, E.Guinea, Angola, and Gabon) are in sub-Saharan Africa. And from the data, it can be seen that the reason is because of a combination of low income and high price per litre. Libya would have been in the same category if not for its remarkably low price of petrol.

Why do countries in sub-Saharan Africa think it is okay to have high energy prices? High energy prices evidently a major factor that explains the prevalent poverty and low income across sub-Saharan Africa?

Comment 2: Prof … Forgive me … But GDP per capita is not in any way the almighty ,all powerful metric to determine the productivity of an economy or even the health of any Economy.
It is just one among many other parameters that should be assessed all together to know if an Economy is strong , viable and healthy. It is a bit as if you say because someone has headaches , then the person has malaria , which is not the right diagnosis. It could be that the person has overworked , the person thinks too much , the person is constipated ,etc. It could be anything , not only malaria. A typical case is Russia ,which is a strong economy that produces more than it consumes , that has almost zero debt compared to the most indebted country on earth , etc.

Also , African economies are not really evaluated for the simple reason that most businesses in Africa are informal , hence no data to really evaluate our strength. Like I laugh when I hear foreign agencies say Africans live with less than a dollar per day . Lol it can’t even buy yam or tomato , yet we eat.