People-Centered Problem Solving: The Missing Link in Every Organization

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 10-09-25

Section 2 from the People Solve Problems Book

People-Centered Problem Solving: The Missing Link in Every Organization

Tools don’t solve problems—people do.

The best solutions don’t come from checklists—they come from thinking, learning, and adapting.
This video series covers section 2 of People Solve Problems, where we explore the skills that drive real solutions, from crafting the right problem statements to integrating intuition and testing ideas in the real world. These videos shift the focus from rigid frameworks to the human capabilities that make problem-solving effective.

Watch The YouTube Series Here

Crafting Problem Statements

Discover why creating effective problem statements is perhaps the most crucial skill in problem-solving. Learn how to define problems as gaps, avoid common pitfalls, and why, as John Dewey said, “a problem well defined is a problem half solved.”

Studying Cause and Effect

Explore why studying cause and effect is at the heart of effective problem-solving. Learn the difference between discrete and continuous knowledge gaps, and discover why curiosity and direct observation are crucial for closing knowledge gaps before performance gaps.

Integrating Intuition

Explore why intuition is essential in problem-solving, supported by insights from Einstein and Kahneman. Learn how expertise and structured thinking work together – it’s not about choosing between intuition and analysis, but integrating both for better results.

Ideating and Selecting Solutions

The best solutions come from generating many ideas – obvious ones, impossible ones, and everything in between. Invite people who disagree to challenge each other’s thinking. Set your selection criteria upfront, then test your top ideas with quick prototypes. The solution that survives real-world testing is your winner.

Test to Learn

Ask “how do you know?” at every step. Balance confidence with risk by running fast, cheap experiments instead of big bets. Create hypotheses to build knowledge you can use again. Even poker pros lose hands on purpose to test what they think they know. Good testing doesn’t just solve today’s problem – it makes you better at solving future ones too.

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