| DESCRIPTION |
The problem boundary is defined here as the imaginary line between what
a problem is, must be, should be, or could be, and what it isn’t,
mustn’t be, shouldn’t be, or couldn’t be. This approach
works in two stages: first, by identifying the elements of the boundary;
then seeing how far they can be loosened.
See also Multiple Redefinition and Boundary Examination.
Identifying the boundary
The boundary can be identified and defined by a number of different
techniques;
- By stating what the issues isn't: Take each significant
term in a problem statement and define it more clearly by
saying what it is not, for example:
| How to design |
not guess, make up, draw… |
| a handset |
not hands free, remote… |
| to replace |
not alter, modify, change colour.. |
| the telephone |
not the radio, pager, computer... |
- Research: Boundary conditions not mentioned in the problem
statement may often be found by researching or generally
‘asking around’. Sometimes you may need to ‘read
between the lines’.
- Checklists: Similar problems often share similar boundaries,
so checklists can be helpful. For instance, most managerial
problem solving has to work within upper (and sometimes
lower) limits of:
- approval authorization, legality, regulations, due
process …
- resources money, skill, people, time, equipment …
- prior investments structure, plant, suppliers, markets,
image …
- Acceptability levels of intrusion, change, spread
of information…
- Involve mentor non-alienation staff, customers, stakeholders,
etc.
- Boundary Brainstorming: You can use brainstorming
and nominal group methods to generate
lists of issues or components that might be inside the problem
boundary, outside it but in the near environment, and remoter
from it. Check them with people involved in the problem,
and define the boundary by sorting these items into those
definitely inside the boundary, definitely outside it and
possibly negotiable.
Relaxing the boundaries
Once a boundary feature has been identified clearly, then it is usually
relatively simple to ask yourself and/or others involved: ‘Would
it help if this part of the boundary could be altered in some way –
and if so, how and when?’
It may be easier to get temporary shifting of a boundary by discreetly
‘bending’ it and making sure nothing goes wrong, than by trying
to get formal permission to alter it. As is often the case ‘ it
is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.’
[Source: www.mycoted.com ] |
