1. DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

2. Simple Problems Obvious Problem (easy to see) Have limited solutions
Can be solved by an single arrowman (no committee)
Have solutions that are based on experience and current knowledge.
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

3. Complex Problems Poorly defined or hard to see
Have a large number of possible solutions
Are best solved by a group or team
Have solutions that involve creative thinking and multiple actions
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

4. Implement the solution you just found!
Define The Problem
THINK
Implement the solution you just found!
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

5. Problem #1
It is Friday evening of an Ordeal and you are in charge of the weekend. You discover that your Lodge Secretary has shown up at the Ordeal without a list of candidates or those registered to attend.
What do you do???
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

6. DecisionWise Model Start Here Problem Discovery Success! Fact Do It!
Finding
Do It!
Plan
Ideas Ideas Ideas
Select
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

7. Is there a problem here? Some questions to ask
What is frustrating and irritating?
What are other lodges doing that we could do?
How can we improve our…?
What would our members want us to improve?
What could our members do better if we could help them?
What small problems do we have that could grow into bigger ones?
What makes our work more difficult?
What do we often fail to achieve?
What are the real facts about the problem?
Why and when and where is it happening?
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

8. With whom is it happening?
Get input from other people who notice the problem and are affected by it.
There may be many possible solutions. Have as many alternative solutions as possible. This can be time consuming, but it is necessary.
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

9. Will the benefits of solving the problem be worth the effort we put into it?
What options do we have?
Brainstorming for ideas
Keep as many people involved as possible
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

10. Solving the Problem
Which approach is most likely to solve the problem for the long term?
Which approach is the most realistic to accomplish now?
Do we have the resources?
Are the resources affordable?
Do we have enough time?
What risks do we have?
What steps do we need to take to implement the best idea?
What procedures need to be changed?
Do policies need to be changed?
Who will be responsible for the changes?
What is the time line for completion?
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

11. DO IT! Now is the time to implement the plan.
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process

12. SUCCESS!! Watch for indicators of success:
Are you seeing what you would expect from the changes?
Will you be completed according to schedule?
Order of the Arrow • Lodge Leadership Development •
Problem Solving DecisionWise: A Powerful Problem Solving Process