The success of a company can depend to a large extent on the ability of its staff to solve problems'effectively, both in their day-to-day work and through innovation. This applies not only to senior management, but at all levels in an organisation.

It's not enough simply to teach effective problem solving techniques. The working environment has a very powerful influence on the individual's ability to solve problems effectively and it needs to be supportive and stimulating.

To be truly effective in your work and to contribute to the success of your organisation, you need to be aware of the influence of the working environment on problem solving. This enables you to

• recognise and overcome negative influences on your own problem solving, and
• help to create an environment which will support others in their problem solving.

What factors shape the working environment? The elements which compose the working environment can be divided broadly into three interdependent groups:  the company's policies and procedures the style of management the physical environment.

Read the next article  Company policies and procedures effect on problem solving

If you would like to place a link to this resource on your site please just paste the following link text into your page:

It will look like this: A good climate for problem solving