Church Problem Solving
The following information is CIM's approach to Problem Solving. While many organizations have their own problem-solving approach very few focus on a model that takes the problem into a continuous improvement environment. The seven steps are identified below.
1. Identify the Problem's Impact on Members & Prospects
This is a critical step to generate a clear, concise problem statement that can be addressed by the improvement team. We must always keep the member & prospect in mind and improve to meet their expectations.
2. Analyze the Problem
Learn what is stopping us from achieving the desired member & prospect service level. Determine the cause of the problem and the factors with which to analyze it.
3. Generate Potential Solutions
Identify as many potential solutions as possible. Creative thinking is a must if we are to learn to work and think "outside the box". A common mistake is to select a solution before you have identified all the potential solutions.
4. Select and Plan the Solution
Identify the best solutions. There may be both short-term problem-solving opportunities and long-term focused improvement or redesign/innovation opportunities. The output for this step is a completed recommendation form that identifies which approach is best. As you move toward implementation, some additions or adjustments may need to be made to your improvement team and/or the improvement plan itself The team responsible for implementation will be responsible for steps 5 through 7.
5. Implement the Solution
The recommendations will be executed and the opportunities will be achieved.
6. Evaluate the Improvement
You must monitor, measure and track the progress of the implementation. Look for problems that may be created by the solution. Also identify potential decisions that must be made as well as other opportunities for improvement.
7. Institutionalize the Solution or Try an Alternate
If the solution is successful, you will want to institutionalize it, where appropriate, by sharing it with other ministries within the church. If the solution is not as successful as you want it to be, try an alternative. When verified as the "right" solution, look for ways to continually improve upon it.
Church Problem Solving
CIM uses two different scenarios in training organizations in how to use our problem-solving methodology. They are based on the following four elements:
- Understanding Team Dynamics
- How to Make Teams Effective
- Understanding the Basic Problem-Solving Tools
- Basic Problem Solving
The first scenario is a five day, 40 hour training program that covers all four elements identified above. This class is designed for organizations and/or individuals who have little or no knowledge of problem solving or the basic tools. It is very interactive with participants learning the tools and problem-solving steps while using a case study. Maximum number of students is 20. This class is best conducted with members of existing teams or with individuals about to be assigned to a team. The second scenario is a three day, 24 hour training program that covers all of the elements listed above except for "Understanding the Basic Problem-Solving Tools". It is assumed that participants have already had this training and are comfortable using the following tools: Brainstorming, Delphi Narrowing Technique, Charts and Graphs, Pareto Diagrams, Histograms and Force Field Analysis. It is also interactive with participants learning the problem-solving steps using a case study. Maximum number of students is 20. This class is best conducted with members of existing teams or with previously trained individuals about to be assigned to a team. Key Benefits Churches have many problems that need to be addressed, and
CIM provides the highly trained consultants that have both the ministry experience and the organizational know-how to get the job done in a truly professional, yet godly, manner. Few churches take an objective, wholelistic approach to dealing with their weaknesses & problems, yet
CIM's experience reveals that the few churches that do systematic problem solving reap huge results in member contentedness and church-staff job satisfaction almost immediately (this is not a guarantee, but a studied observation). Solving problems--removing the barriers to growth--clears the stage for numerical and financial growth.
