Factors that Encourage Successful Problem Solving

As the body of research grows in relation to problem solving, so a number of factors have started to emerge which are seen as crucial to the effective adoption and operation of the process. Read and Tilley (2000) suggest that there are nine such factors, namely the:

1. Presence of a committed, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and involved leadership.

2. Provision of practical help and advice in planning and doing problem solving.

3. Provision of data, analytic software for analysis and competent analysts.

4. Provision of information, training and experience to inform problem solving.

5. Development of methods to disseminate good practice.

6. Development of structures to encourage problem solving.

7. Development of units or task forces dedicated to specific areas of problem solving.

8. Allocation of staff on the basis of their aptitudes.

9. Use of rewards to provide incentives for problem solving. See the Home Office report Not Rocket Science?