The Problem & Solutions Cycle !

For a typical SME (any generalization here is only for simplification and should not be taken literally), running a business today means juggling a million tasks at once. From managing projects to keeping track of finances; from hiring people to taking a call on marketing solutions; from investment decisions to taking decisions on emerging competition, it can get overwhelming very soon, very fast. But guess what? It is in the basics like diagnosis, finding possible solutions and later in their implementation that the future of the SME will hinge on !

How businesses in India cope with challenges ?

In my own career spanning almost 3 decades or more and having been with a ring-side view of almost 800+ businesses, the issues are real but the solutions, sad to state, are far from optimal.

The following random and one-off examples represent in varying degrees the reactions of the management to crisis (To clarify, we are not talking about that top 7-8% of businesses that always seem to have the pedigree, the experience and the access to the best & proven management talent).

1. Questioning the existence of the problem. Denial means shunting the questions to a zone where the issue itself is labeled as non-existent, or banishing issues to a zone where it presumably takes care of itself. e.g. threat to existence due to inherent practices. In one of the clients', transport cost (being a tile manufacturing company) was equal to or exceeded the cost of raw material itself. No amount of proof actually could convince the top that there could be an alternative for e.g. railroad option. Not surprisingly, the company did not survive ! 2. Solutions seen as worsening the problems: This, to my mind is more damaging since it allows the management to live with the issue or maintain the status-quo on the wrong presumption that any solution may worsen matters e.g. in a private family-run company, the formation of an union among staff members was blown up to be a lack of trust issue leading to some retaliatory firings of senior members who were actually loyal & trust-worthy themselves. The saner approach was to accept that there were indeed serious doubts about an expansion which the company was planning and the fears it was later proven, were well justified 3. Cosmetic change seen as a solution : Very often, when perception of root-cause is limited, blame in such scenarios would seems to be centered on minor issues which are not substantial. e.g. when some management goals are repeatedly missed, the tendency among weaker managements is to push the blame and find scape-goats, whose sacking could deflect attention from the real issues at stake and were therefore seen to be expendable.

Why Management Solutions Are Not So Obvious ?

Challenges in Finding Solutions

The process of identifying and implementing solutions can often be complex and time-consuming. Here are some key points to consider:

• Diagnosis Delays: It can take a significant amount of time to accurately diagnose the root of a problem.

• Obvious Solutions: Sometimes, the most effective solutions seem obvious in hindsight, yet they are overlooked during the initial assessment.

• Implementation Issues: Even after a solution is identified, the process of implementing it can face numerous challenges.

• Communication Gaps: Miscommunication among stakeholders can hinder the timely execution of solutions.

• Resource Constraints: Limited resources may delay the implementation of even the most straightforward solutions.

Road Blocks to Effective Problem-Solving

The solution or more exactly, the process of finding solutions are not so easy and sometimes take too late to diagnose, prescribe and implement, solutions which are fairly obvious, There are several road blocks that can delay or prevent at times the implementation of obvious solutions:

1. Blind loyalty to existing power structures..

2. Stubborn belief that existing personnel who are actually part of the problem are capable of solving the problem..

3. Unknown factors, such as cost and time of possible solutions, deter the search for solutions itself..

Understanding these challenges can help streamline the problem-solving process and improve the efficiency of finding effective solutions. Let's take a look at how companies & businesses attempt to solve business problems.

Project management dashboard on laptop screen

Other platforms like vBoard help your business to move ahead There are indeed other agencies or platforms which profess to help businesses to resolve issues and bring about solutions. Here, we are not looking at traditional solutions like retainers or other consulting firms which have a brick-and -mortar approach and are usually the go-to persons in the past

• Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG): A major player in the expert network space, GLG connects businesses and professionals with experts across a vast range of industries and topics for consultations.
  

• AlphaSights: Another prominent expert network that connects clients with industry professionals for knowledge sharing and one-on-one consultations. 

  
  

• Dr. Ameet Parekh Group, who claim to be India's top business consultant. Offer expert ideas and knowledgeable guidance to grow your company.

  
  

• Upwork : Your Project, Matched With A Freelance Pro On Upwork™. Free To Post With No Upfront Costs. Get Matched With Skilled Freelancers On Upwork™..

  
  

• Leap2Excel LLP : which is a brain child of FOUR experienced industry professionals, who came together for delivering integrated business solutions.
  

Why and how is vBoard customized to help you specifically in your business issues

One size will definitely not fit the bill. Not when the issues are so big, the clientele are so dispersed and the problems as varied as chalk & cheese. Therefore, we do not try and offer you a magic solution to your problems. But again, we have the patience, the commitment & the skills to be with you in your journeys beginning with the diagnosis of the issue and its validation which is the basis for any lasting solution. Our motto is Anything, Anywhere, Anytime. To walk this talk, we have developed seven different solutions, from simple validation to complex consulting to suit most businesses and most situations. We believe that a time has come for virtual board to replace conventional consulting