Goals and Solutions. Does the difference matter?

Goals and solutions

The difference between goals and solutions are clear. Goals are what you want in relation to the problem, while solutions are what you want independent of the problem.

What?

I have been in a reflective state of mind. Working with organizations and individuals to create plans and strategies. This creates wonder between goals and solutions, they are different.

Goals are what you want in relation to the problem. You have identified a problem for example; The existing management staff is too busy doing detailed daily work and and work is being completed late, over budget and below quality standards.

The goal is something you would create in relation to this problem. For example:

  • Train management staff to develop systems and coach subordinates on work flow and develop goal setting expectations. This will be measured by existing amount of time managers spend on front-line work vs. developing management systems as well as accountability distinctions made by managers-once-removed and executive directors to mentor and coach for continued development of management skills.

Solutions are what you want independent of the problem. Using the same problem stated above…the solution may be different.

  • Ensure that we have the proper managers in place to handle the level of complexity necessary in that role. Develop clear lines of accountability and authority that are supported by managers and managers-once-removed to develop a shared structure of management support and proper matching of skills and current-actual-capacity with the level of work.
  • Examine our placement and role descriptions and relationship process. Developing a known and solid placement of the right people with the right skills and the right values who can handle the proper level of complexity to the role.

So What?

While descriptions sound similar and there are some similarities the approach and view are different.

The problem starts with What is wrong and how to fix that problem? It is dependent upon the problem. That is thinking you have identified the problem correctly, and the problem you think is the problem is really the problem.

The solution starts with What should be happening and when it happens how will we know? Using Ackoff’s idealized design…we look independent of the problem and determine what the solution would look like and how to continue to build upon what we know and develop continuous improvement.

Now What?

Both the goal and the solution are helpful neither is better than the other. Working with your team and yourself to think about the dependency that is felt to the problem vs the independency you can see with the solution is a emergent way of viewing what works.

 

What do you think?

Can you see the difference between a goal and a solution?

Team Building Leadership Innovation expert Michael Cardus

michael cardus is create-learning

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