Understanding and Evaluating How Leaders Solve Problems

Decision Making in Educational Leadership, Chapter 6

ON THE JOB DECISION MAKING

• How can it be explained?

• How can it be evaluated?

Decision Making & Problem Solving

• Recognizing situations that resemble previous experiences to help determine the best course of action

• Based on experience

• Quick, not quality

• Choosing between alternative courses of action based on their calculation of the probability of each alternative satisfying their preference

• Based on information (lots of it)

• Unrealistic assumptions

DECISION MAKING APPROACHES

Classical Naturalistic

EVALUATING PROBLEM SOLVING

Problem: A demand that a goal be achieved, plus constraints on the manner in which it is achieved

• Constraints: Conditions that define what counts as an acceptable solution to the problem• Reduce the number of possible solutions• Interact in ways that require weighing and integrating

EVALUATING PROBLEM SOLVING

• Accuracy: Are the assumptions of the solution and/or constraints correct?

• Effectiveness: Does the solution achieve intended outcomes, and satisfy constraints?

• Coherence: Are the constraints prioritized and weighted appropriately

• Improvability: Is there room to ask questions to evaluate the solution

• Is the solution theory effective? (Single Loop Learning)

• Have key constraints been weighted? Are new ones needed? (Double Loop Learning)

Problem-Based Models use evaluative criteria to determine the quality of possible solutions

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

DECIDING ON A TREE SWING

Constraints

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

• A kid can swing on it

• No more than one rope per branch

DECIDING ON A TREE SWING

Constraints

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

• A kid can swing on it

• No more than one rope per branch

DECIDING ON A TREE SWING

Constraints

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

• A kid can swing on it

• No more than one rope per branch

DECIDING ON A TREE SWING

Constraints

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

• A kid can swing on it

• No more than one rope per branch

NEGOTIATING CONSTRAINTSConstraints

• Attached to a tree

• Inexpensive materials

• Simple to install

• A kid can swing on it

• No more than one rope per branch

Constraints

TABLE TALK

• What was the problem?

• What were the constraints?

• Which constraints were the most important?

• Did you reach a good solution?• How do you know?

Think of a problem you have helped to solve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puo1Enh9h5k

EVALUATING PROBLEM SOLVING

• Accuracy: Are the assumptions of constraints correct?

• Effectiveness: Do the solution options satisfy constraints?

• Coherence: Are the constraints prioritized and weighted appropriately

• Improvability: Is there room to ask questions to evaluate the solution

• Is the solution theory effective? (Single Loop Learning)

• Have key constraints been weighted? Are new ones needed? (Double Loop Learning)

Problem:

Select the Holy Grail from the multitude of options

Constraints:• It should be in the room• It should be an appropriate cup for a

_______

THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

IMAGE SOURCESChoose Wisely:

• http://rpmftns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Choose-Wisely.jpg

He Chose Poorly :

• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dIqFrcAiH_Y/TJfl77lGzFI/AAAAAAAAAN4/EYoHZ0OHRwM/s1600/indiana+jones+and+the+last+crusade.jpg

Tire Swing Illustrations:

• https://www.lullabot.com/sites/lullabot.com/files/tire_swing.png

You Must Choose:

• https://d262ilb51hltx0.cloudfront.net/max/800/1*-j9Dfc-b1A0BQ1IWxErs2A.jpeg