Concept

ProblemSolver is a tool to support creative problem solving individually or in groups. Due to the growing complexity of today's problem situations, it is becoming more and more necessary to work on them in groups. Working on a problem in groups can take place either through single sessions or in workshops. In an idea generation session, only one problem solving cycle is concentrated on, as in a workshop, three to four cycles are worked on. Although ProblemSolver is primarily designed for groupwork in sessions or workshops, it could also be used by an individual to solve problems.

Problems and challenges should be worked out systematically and mostly in teams. This procedure is divided and organized into different stages:

1. Analysis of the problem; clarification of the problem situation (Problem clarification). Only those who     have understood the problem properly can think of sensible new solutions.

2. Ideas for a solution are worked out; as many ideas as possible; all approaches are to be layed down     on the table (Idea generation).

3. The ideas are to be screened, structured, and evaluated; finally, the ideas worth pursuing are selected     (Evaluation and selection).

4. It is determined which ideas are to be further pursued and realized (Decision and planning activities).     Here the follow-up steps are planned.

ProblemSolver support all phases.

Netware ability

All modules run with net functions. Therefore many user can work on the same session at the same time. Participants can stimulate each other in the phase of idea generation or vote parallel in the evaluation area.

Description

In every session various methods can be used. The methods are integrated to the session by an easy mouseclick.

Beside the methodological modules the system supports some other features e.g. NetInspector or a ChatBox.

A briefly description of the modules can be find on the next pages

Screens

In the figure, the main screen is presented. The small window on the left (activity plan) shows the individual steps in the process. The large window on the right (presentation window) shows the results of the active module. To work with a module, the desired tool in the activity plan (left) must be clicked. If the module is not integrated to the process you can just add and position it by mouse. The icons on the speed bar show some of the preferred methods for fast access. All methods can be found in the menu.

The example shows a part of the automatically produced protocoll of problemsolver. This protocoll can be published as HTML-File (e.g. for use in the internet) by a mouseclick.





To add new elements to the session simple use the mouse.





In the Chatroom you can comunicate with other participants who are logged in to the same session.





The Netinspector tells you who is connected to the same session.