S.O.L.V.E Work Challenges
The Big Why
How you S.O.L.V.E problems more effectively and easily at work
It’s not easy to face challenges at work when there is usually little time to really tackle the problem and transform them into opportunities.
In our experience, many companies seek solutions either with their teams or using external consultants that “look good” on paper and reveal the potential for great gains. So much time, money and resources are spent debating over the “perfect solution” only to find that implementation is complex and difficult. Often times, they put away the initiative because of unforeseen complications.
The truth is, in our experience, there are always going to be “unforeseen” complications. That’s why we developed a systematic approach to effectively “identifying” and “implementing” solutions. To us, “potential gain” is really only just that - a potential. In stark contrast, tangible results can only be realized after implementation.
That’s why for us, knowing the solution is only half the battle, implementing it is how we cement the gains and realize real impact. To that end we don’t accept contracts that only focus on the solution unless it comes with an implementation. We only care about tangible actualized results.
It’s the reason that all of our project ROI’s have been tabulated and we publish them publicly on our RESULTS page so you can hold us accountable.
Our Proven Solution
The 5-step S.O.L.V.E system involves solution development AND implementation
Our method to S.O.L.V.E big company problems is the systematic, proven way that we can hone in on viable solutions and effectively implement them to achieve the results. What’s amazing is that in all cases the cost of solving and implementing the solutions is comparable to just hiring reputable consultants to proposing them.
So for roughly the SAME COSTS you get an implemented solution rather than a nice powerpoint presentation. No worries, we will throw in the powerpoint deck as well !
How Our System Works
The 5-step process accelerates solution to implementation
We realize the elephant question in the room is “how can you achieve solutions and implementations for roughly the same costs of proposals?”. The simple answer is in the proven system that is the subject of this case study. The following steps were used in dozens of successful implementations and the main learnings summarized below:
Step 1 : SOURCE the challenge
It seems obvious yet in our experience, the true source of a long standing company challenge is, in fact, NOT obvious. There are countless reasons why big, persistent company challenges exist for decades and decades, yet in our humble experience, they tend to focus on an “invisible yet known” reason why all solutions that have been attempted, fail miserably. Getting to the source of the problem, why it came about, what are some of the circumstances that led to the issue provides context that is essential to addressing in order to implement a viable solution.
Our systematic approaches at this phase utilize a set of tools that we have proven works to “unmasking” the source(s) of the challenge. These tools help engage the teams and experts involved and are delivered by our solution agents that have been “certified” to use them effectively depending on the challenge being addressed. A set of these implementations are coming out in future case studies and our white papers that are being released shortly.
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Step 2 : OBSERVE company experts and working style
This step is often overlooked in solution building as many companies fall back on surveys and interviews to observe their clients. Our approach is different. We believe if you take the expert out of their work environment to answer some questions, you may get some answers but not the context of the environment that they work in. To that end, you get only pieces of the issue and have to guess to fill in the blanks.
Using our approach, we shadow how the main experts in the field work everyday and through natural observation, determine some of the challenges they are facing. In fact, we have exposed over 32% more challenges on average this way than the traditional methods of questionnaires and interviews. What’s even more remarkable that almost 91% of these additional “Observations” were factors that ended up being “Critical to Success”.
That’s why this step is so essential and provides the main fodder for a successful implementation.
Step 3 : LEVERAGE existing and past company solutions
At first glance, this step appears “non-intuitive”. It’s actually our most effective step to finalizing the solution for several reasons. First off, in our experience most company problems have already been solved by the experts, sometimes multiple times over. The failure was not in the solution but rather in the implementation as one or more critical factors were not considered or “invisible”. That’s ok because our first step where we “SOURCE” the challenge takes care of it. Secondly, these “failed solutions” often leave experts frustrated and upset since they know they will work and usually blame the company process or culture for why they are not implemented. In our experience across 113 implementations of this system, the truth, more often enough, is that some of the key stakeholder’s don’t see a “WIN” in the solution or are not aligned with the implementation.
Our system focuses on WIN-WIN solutions and implementations for all key stakeholders that are usually cross-functional. That’s why Solution Agents come from diverse fields for engineering, chemistry, regulatory, quality, communication and even psychology to ensure we get the best WIN-WIN result for everyone.
That’s how we were able to solve complex cross-functional challenges that persisted for decades in some cases.
Step 4 : VALIDATE the solution with a quick minimal viable pilot
Too often, teams just jump right in to implementing solutions and come up against big obstacles because they didn’t pilot the solution to ensure it will work and to work out any kinks. This lack of validation gets many functions anxious as work effectiveness, integrity or compliance risk can cause significant business disruptions. In our implementations, we quickly identify an easy pilot usually with an easer segment of the company invested in the solution, many times because it was their solution to begin with as per the LEVERAGE step!
The pilot serves to DERISK broader implementation and gain support amongst even the most resistive functions as the benefits are evident and tangible with the pilot implementation. This serves to energize the organization and create an atmosphere of “collaboration” over the realized WIN-WIN.
In our experience, any resistance in the form of “I’m not sure this will work effectively” leads to another problem : “How quickly can this be implemented on scale?”. Fortunately that’s a good problem to have and given the diligent work performed in the first 4 steps of the system, should be relatively easy task.
Step 5 : EMPOWERING the teams to champion the solution for sustainability
Through scaling the solution, training functions to own the new operations is critical to “sustain the gain” and even increase it over time.
In our experience, we find that a good solution and implementation should leave the consultants “without a job”. The marker of success in a solution is how it’s so sustainable that the company never needs to hire any consultants in the future to deal with it.
Instead, the internal associates and functions are empowered to sustain it and in our experience, do one better, continually improving on it beyond even our expectations.
The Impact
Over 355% ROI realized to date and counting
To date, we have realized over 355% ROI across 113 implementations resulting in over $94M cost avoidance after our implementations.
It’s fantastic and very satisfying to experience when a company takes over an incredibly successful initiative. In fact, it’s the goal of every Solution Agent, as they learn in the certification course, to implement a solution that effectively “works the Solution Agent out of a job - quickly”.
Coupling the S.O.L.V.E process with AI
Sustaining the ROI realized using AI
Using AI to ensure all the procedures with the efficiencies gained are maintained.
The use of AI can be used to ensure associates utilize the new process the way it was intended and in a standardized manner. Through the use of our patented process, associates will get prompts and suggestions as they perform the new process to keep them using the appropriate material and follow the optimized steps. This helps them keep the improvements on track and maintain the gain.
Book your exploratory session today !
This session will help you S.O.L.V.E these every problems more effectively and get you back to your everyday !
What you will receive in the Exploratory Session
* A moment to reflect on the major “Top-of-Mind” challenges facing you and your projects.
* Tools and insights that give you a better grasp on how S.O.L.V.E can address complex business issues effectively.
* The means and space to discover how to transform your challenges into opportunities.
* A personalized proposal on how S.O.L.V.E and other systems can be implemented along with it’s expected impact.
* Access to white papers, templates and videos to help you discover your problem S.O.L.V.E skills.
* Proposal with roadmap on how S.O.L.V.E can be coupled with AI to sustain the gain.
How it impacts your work
* Action focused implementable plan to improve your business.
* Greater focus to S.O.L.V.E issues that matter most to you and your business.
* Access to SolutionAgents that can help you and your team address the challenges.