Catalyzing interfunctional efforts to find and creatively solve important business problems

Abstract

<p>Many companies today are sensing that important changes in how they conduct their business are needed if profit levels are to be maintained and improved . With the slowing of growth and intensifying competition, acceleration of productivity improvement has emerged as a clear business need . Cost improvement and new managerial skills needed for the increased complexities of the business are important is sues. In many companies which have thrived on functional excellence and organizational efficiency, the need to expand managerial competence in the following new ways is being increasingly recognized: <ul> <li> More idea generation and thought leadership</li> <li>More horizontal leadership and team work </li> <li> More strategic thinking </li> </ul></p> <p>In the following pages, a unique, proven, managerial productivity process is described which helps maintain profits in spite of challenging inflationary and market pressures. The centerpiece of this productivity process is a trainable thinking process cal led a "Complete Process of Creative Problem Solving" (Basadur, Graen and Green , 1982 . This process is action oriented , facilitates teamwork and team leadership , and develops thinking skills and attitudes for taking problem solving initiatives and idea generation and implement at ion . It is a practical , research- based process (Basadur and Finkbeiner, 1985 ; l9 83 a; 19 83b; Basadur and Thompson, 19 83) . It expands beyond the kind of thinking skills and attitudes prevalent among mo st North American managers .</p>