Basic Concepts

• Select and plan the solution that has the greatest impact on solving the problem
• Use a solution rating matrix to weigh different solutions based on selection criteria (costs, probability of success, ease of implementation)
• Solutions should have support from your previous analysis that you can clearly communicate to the client
• Test your solutions as much as you can – use some of the Impact Analysis Tools 

Common Land Mines that Blow Analytical Thinking Apart

• Once a problem is defined, Professional Consultants must have some ability to develop a possible solution. If the Consultant has no control to make recommendations for a problem, then the problem has been defined outside the scope of the project.
• The client’s definition of the problem may not be correct. The client may lack the knowledge and experience that Professional Consultants have.
• Since most problems are not unique, Professional Consultants may be able to validate the problem and possible solutions against other sources (past projects, other experts, etc.).
• The best solutions to a problem are often too difficult for the client to implement. So be careful about recommending the optimal solution to a problem. Most solutions require some degree of compromise for implementation.