Problem Solving Style Inventory
Do you engage employees to help fix company problems, or do you usually come up with resolutions on your own? The Problem-Solving Style Inventory (PSSI) evaluates your typical problem-solving techniques against the four critical factors to consider when solving specific situations. Help supervisors, managers, and team leaders identify their dominant and supportive styles of decision making and problem-solving within their work environment using this effective training tool.
How It Works
Both the Problem-Solving Style Inventory self and feedback forms provide 30 pairs of statements describing how people typically solve problems or make decisions. Scoring the participants' selections gives everyone a chance to generate an overall problem-solving/decision-making style preference profile. One's sub-scores indicate usage of each of the five problem-solving styles.
The Five Problem-Solving Styles:
- Ego-oriented
- We-oriented
- Deferred
- Other-oriented
- I-oriented
Combing the self and feedback scores allows managers to compare their data with the responses of their team. Participants learn about the different problem-solving styles, the four critical factors in choosing a style, analyze the possible overuse or underuse of each style, and design personal action plans. The self-inventory may be completed either before training or at the session. The feedback inventory should be completed and returned before the session so they can be scored and summarized.
Uses and Applications
The Problem-Solving Style Inventory illustrates the various styles available to a supervisor or manager for solving problems and making decisions. You can plot a manager's problem-solving behavior along two axes, the first being "ego-centered behavior," or the extent to which a manager attempts to solve all problems by themselves or with little help. Meanwhile, "other-centered behavior" is the extent to which a manager includes other people in the problem-solving or decision-making process.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Identify which styles you tend to use and ignore
- Understand when and how to use different styles
- Determine which of the five styles is most useful for your team
- Identify the essential factors to consider when choosing a style
Product Details
Product Type: Assessment
Target Audience: Leadership teams and upper management
Measures: A manager's preference for one of five problem-solving styles
Dimensions: Communication, problem-solving, team-building, and conflict resolution
Time Required: Scoring: 10 minutes. Interpretation: one hour.
What to Order
Facilitator Guide: Order One Guide Per Trainer.
The Facilitator Guide includes background information, administrative guidelines, step-by-step workshop outline, and sample participant materials. Facilitator materials will be available as a digital download link in your order confirmation.
Paper Assessment 5-Pack: Order One Pack for Up to Five Participants.
The Paper Assessment is ideal for facilitators who prefer to oversee scoring and administration of the assessment. It includes pressure-sensitive forms for manual scoring.
Observer Form 5-Pack: Order One Pack for Up to Fiver Participants.
The Observer Form is designed to check the accuracy of a coach’s perception by allowing them to see how their peers perceive their style.
About the Author
Kenneth R. Phillips, Ph.D., is the president of Phillips Associates, performance management and sales performance training and consulting firm. He has been helping large and small organizations achieve improved performance since 1975. A noted authority in the performance management and sales performance training arenas, Dr. Phillips is a frequent speaker for numerous regional and local ASTD and SHRM groups. He has held administrative positions with two national corporations and two colleges before pursuing his Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Northwestern University. Phillips Associates has a reputation as a supplier of programs and services that make a measurable impact on productivity.