Interview Questions: Problem Solving
Definition: Problem solving involves identifying an issue and conducting a root cause analysis. This includes examining all contributing factors and collecting relevant information while considering the perspectives of others. Multiple solutions are developed through brainstorming, and these solutions are then evaluated for practicality, efficiency, and feasibility. Additionally, the needs and constraints imposed by the organization are balanced. The information gathered is analyzed to determine the best strategy for addressing the problem, which is then effectively implemented.
The statements below may be used in your job interview as measures of your "Problem Solving" skills. There are steps you can take to measure or improve Problem Solving.
Problem Definition
- How would you assess the size and impact of a problem to better understand where resources may be needed?
- In your department, how would you recognize the challenges that have emerged or are about to emerge?
- Explain how you would illuminate a problem by identifying the gap between expected outcomes and the current situation.
- How would you communicate goals and the present situation to ensure everyone understands the problem?
- Explain how you would clarify objectives and the current scenario to help your employees grasp the problem.
- How would you quantify a discrepancy between expected outcomes and measures of performance?
- Are you skilled at quickly diagnosing issues, identifying root causes, and developing and implementing effective solutions in the workplace? Give examples.
- Give examples of how you clearly articulate expected outcomes and the current situation to foster a shared understanding of the problem among stakeholders.
- Give examples from your previous position in which you identified the problems that have occurred or were likely to occur.
- In your previous position how did you pinpoint the issues that have arisen or are expected to arise?
- Defining a problem is one of the first steps to finding a solution. What steps would you go through to determine what needs fixed, its root causes, and the correct solutions to be implemented?
- How do you establishes the issue(s) that have gone wrong or are about to go wrong?
Effectiveness
- Are you effective in solving difficult problems? What difficult problem have you solved recently?
- How do you ensure employees in your department focus on solutions that close the gap between expected outcomes and the current situation?
- Would others say that you are effective in solving problems? What kinds of problems? Give an example.
- Are you able to solves difficult problems with ease? What kinds of problems? When did they occur?
- Are you a good problem solver and decision maker? Give a few examples.
- Measuring the gap between expected and observed outcomes is important so that the effectiveness of solutions can be determined. Do you utilize concrete measures of the gap between expected and observed outcomes? Explain.
- How would you solve problems that involve political biases, conflicting evidence, and/or lack of data?
- Are you an effective problem solver? How did you help your department last year with issues that needed solved?
Root Cause Analysis
- Do you ensure your employees understand the root causes of problems they encounter? How?
- How do you solve problems at root cause rather than at symptom level?
- How do you solve problems at root cause rather than at symptom level?
- In your previous role, did you have the opportunity to pinpoint the origins of an issue to tackle the root causes and solve the problem at its source? Explain further.
- How do you ensure your employees are able to solve problems at root cause rather than at symptom level?
- Explain how you would be able to isolate the main problem.
- Describe how you would conduct a meticulous investigation of the incident to ensure no possible cause is overlooked.
- Give an example of when you actively sought the root cause of a problem.
- Explain how you would closely examine all the contributing factors to identify the root cause of issues.
- Share an example of when you diagnosed the root causes of a problem.
- Thoroughness is important in any investigation. How do you conduct a thorough and careful analysis of the underlying causes of the problem?
Information Gathering/Collection
- Are you adept at conducting an exhaustive Critical Incident interview? Have you conducted one recently?
- How would you gather input from staff for use in problem solving?
- How do you ensure you are asking the "right" questions to size up or evaluate situations?
- What do you find as your most effective way of soliciting information about a problem from team members?
- Describe the steps you would take to get accurate information about some process or device that went wrong?
- Are you able to conduct a thorough Critical Incident interview?
- How do you determine what facts are relevant?
- Having information is key to making good decisions. How do you gather information on a problem and each solution? Discuss covering costs, benefits, risks, feasibility, and business impact.
- Give an example of when you analyzed systems and processes for opportunities to gain efficiency.
- How do you ensure your employees know how to ask the right questions to size up or evaluate situations?
- New information or events can change everything. How do you accurately assess the implications of new information or events?
- What important trends can you infer from data?
- Different team members may have pieces of information that could be key to solving a problem. And you wouldn't want to mis anything. How would you gather input from various team members to help ensure that the problem is fully understood from all angles?
Considers Alternate Perspectives
- In your former role, have you evaluated whether the necessary resources (budget, personnel, time, technology) were available to implement each solution? Explain.
- Would others say that you are open to their suggestions when working on a problem?
- Documentation helps ensure continuity. How do you document the decision-making process, including the evaluation criteria, the scores or rankings of each solution, and the reasons for selecting the chosen option?
- Different perspectives can lead to more innovative and comprehensive solutions. How do you acknowledge the unique viewpoints and perspectives of other team members?
- "Best practices" often form a benchmark for comparisons. Have you compared "best practice" performance to your current situation? Did you make improvements?
- Are you able to meet the needs of different constituents in the solution of a problem?
- How do you balance the needs of different people in a solution to a problem?
- How would you create a table or chart to compare the solutions side-by-side across all evaluation criteria?
- How do you select the solution that best addresses the problem's objectives, aligns with business priorities, and is feasible to implement?
- How do you evaluate alternative courses of action?
Flexibility
- Do you quickly adapt and changes course as new information emerges or the situation evolves?
- Describe how you would modify approaches and solutions to fit changing circumstances or unexpected obstacles.
- How can you effectively use a variety of problem-solving/analytical approaches to address challenges within the Area?
- Can you demonstrate flexibility in problem-solving with a diverse array of methods and resources suited to various scenarios?
- Flexibility is important in problem solving. Describe how you would adapt to different problems by applying a wide range of strategies and techniques.
- Describe what approaches and tools you would use to tackle issues in various contexts.
- Would your coworkers say that you possess a broad skill set and toolkit to address different challenges effectively?
- Would you describe yourself as a versatile problem-solver with a wide range of tools and techniques at your disposal? How do you apply these tools appropriately to different situations?
- Are you comfortable with uncertainty and can work effectively even when all the information is not yet available? Elaborate.
Balances Criteria/solutions
- How do you solve problems with multiple criteria that need to be met?
- Describe how you would weighs the pros and cons of proposed solutions.
- In your former role, did you solve problems that had difficult or conflicting constraints?
- Did you solve problems that require several different criteria or constraints?
- How do you analyze the potential success of proposed solutions?
- How would you analyze both the potential risks and benefits associated with each proposed solution?
- How would you assess whether the proposed solutions are practical and achievable?
- Explain how you would assess the extent to which a proposed solution would lead to success.
Brainstorming
- Describe how you generated alternative solutions to problems and challenges in your last job.
- Explain how you encourage team members to build on each other's ideas?
- How would you strengthen team cohesion and communication to facilitate effective brainstorming sessions?
- Give an example of how you facilitated the rapid development and exchange of ideas.
- How do you choose a diverse group with relevant expertise and perspectives for a brainstorming session?
- How do you generates a wide range of possible solutions to a problem?
- A large number of ideas could be generated from a brainstorming session. How do you uses a structured process to evaluate these ideas based on their feasibility, cost, potential impact, and alignment with business goals?
- How do you identify and assess all potential responses to a problem?
- How would you create an environment where team members feel free to share their thoughts and ideas without fear of criticism?
- Brainstorming requires a wide range of insights from different individuals. Describe how you bring individuals together with different backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints.
- A diverse group of individuals will create diversity of thought which can uncover unique angles and approaches that might not emerge in a more homogeneous group. Explain how you would value diversity of thought?
Logical Thinking
- Do you use tools like Gantt charts and resource calendars can help visualize and manage solutions?
- In your former role, have you used charting tools to identify patterns in data?
- How do you consider different alternatives to arrive at the best choice available?
- Do you solve problems using logic and insight? Explain.
- Explain how you make judgments about the best solution to a problem.
Creative/Innovative Thinking
- In your previous position, have you identified fresh approaches and shown a willingness to question traditional assumptions? Elaborate.
- How do you generate innovative and practical ideas and approaches?
- Describe how you developed innovative solutions to problems.
- How do you develop innovative solutions to problems?
- How do you find creative ways to get things done with limited resources?
- Have you developed creative solutions to problems? Explain.
- In your former role, have you developed innovative solutions to problems?
- Are you effective in developing innovative products and services? Elaborate.
- Give examples of when you used creative thinking to develop new solutions to problems.
Evaluation of Options
- How do you analyze alternatives and select a course of action?
- Explain how you would determine the impact of recommended solutions.
- How do you select the solution best aligned with the department's goals?
- Describe how you would evaluate potential solutions based on cost, feasibility, and probability of success.
- Solutions may have costs and benefits associated with them. How would you determine the financial viability and potential return on investment of solutions to a problem?
- Give examples of when you evaluated potential solutions against the defined criteria.
- How do you determine which option is likely to yield the best results?
- How do you identify potential courses of action?
- How would you decides which alternative solutions would have the greatest chance of success?
Implementation
- Have you developed a schedule and gathered the necessary materials and tools?
- How did you utilize your staff for the implementation?
- Explain how you set realistic deadlines for each action step and for the overall completion of the solution?
- In your former position, did you implement effective solutions to critical problems?
- How did you implement actions as planned to address the problems?
- How do you implement solutions and evaluate results?
- Describe how you establish a timeline for implementation and organizes the needed supplies and equipment.
- Did you create a project plan to implement the solution?
- Share how you would implement solutions to solve the problem?
- How do you develop and implement clear guidelines and protocols for handling tasks?
Proactive/Risk Assessment
- Did you encourages your team members to suggest ways to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and prevent potential problems? How?
- How did you ensure that team members had the necessary training and were informed about best practices and procedures?
- In your former role, did you identify and analyze potential risks in advance?
- Did you routinely check and maintain equipment, systems, or processes to catch any signs of wear or inefficiency before they turned into bigger issues?
- Did you foster a willingness to experiment and try new things, even if there's a risk of failure?
- What did you do to invest in training and development programs to equip team members with the skills and knowledge they needed to identify and solve problems effectively?
- Have you taken preventative action to address issues before they became difficult to manage?
- Give examples of how you anticipated potential problems by dealing with them in advance.
Action Planning
- In your previous job, did you create a timeline for completing the action steps including deadlines for each task and milestones to be achieved?
- How did you clearly communicate the action plan to all employees, including team members, management, and other affected parties?
- Did you establish clear, measurable goals that the action plan aimed to achieve?
- Did you establish the sequence of tasks, taking into account dependencies?
- Explain how you would set up clear communication (e.g., regular meetings, email updates, project management software) to keep employees updated of action plans.
- Can you identify and assemble the necessary resources (e.g., budget, tools, equipment, personnel) required to implement the action plan?
- Could you identify all stakeholders who would need to be kept informed about the action plan and its progress?
- How would you determine the order in which the action steps would need to be completed including steps that may be dependent on others?
- Describe how you would plan the order of actions, considering any interdependent steps.
- How would you ensure that team members stay on track to implementing the solution and address any issues that arise?
Resource Allocation
- Explain how to maximize the return on investment in problem-solving efforts.
- Can you ensure that critical aspects of the solution to the problem in our department would be well-supported and less likely to encounter issues?
- How would you assign the right people with the right skills to the right tasks taking into account experience, expertise, and availability?
- How do you identify the specific resources required to tackle different aspects of a problem and then assign the resources where they'll have the greatest impact?
- Do you establish realistic budgets consistent with strategic objectives? Explain.
- How do you optimize resource utilization, reducing waste and maximizing efficacy of the solutions implemented?
- How would you distribute resources (people/time/money) to maximize chances of solving the problem efficiently and effectively?
- Did you allocate resources strategically to areas with higher risk potential?
- In your last job, how did you ensure that the right resources were available when and where they were needed?
- How would you prioritize problems to address them based on their potential impact on the business?
Monitoring and Adjusting
- Have you used data analytics to identify patterns and trends that may indicate emerging issues?
- How can you provide a comprehensive assessment of the solution's overall effectiveness, efficiency, and impact?
- How would you conducts ongoing monitoring and follow-up to ensure the solution's continued success and to catch any unintended consequences?
- Did you measure the solution's impact on the desired outcomes and identify any deviations from the expected performance?
- Did you create systems for gathering and acting on feedback from employees, customers, and stakeholders? Explain.
- How would you implement the ongoing tracking of key metrics and indicators to ensure the solution continues to perform as expected?
- Can you link process improvement and results improvement?
- Did you select operating indicators to track organizational performance over time and communicate current status to the organization?
- Have you gathered relevant data to track the solution's performance and identify any trends or patterns?
- Do you continuously monitor performance after implementing a solution to ensure it remains effective? Give examples.
Responsive
- Are you able to respond swiftly to keep the problem-solving process moving forward without unnecessary delays?
- In your former position, were you flexible and willing to adjust your approach when new information or changes in the environment arose?
- Are you flexible and can adjust the solution as needed based on the monitoring data and feedback received?
- Do you regularly assess the situation and the effectiveness of solutions?
- Do you remain calm and composed under pressure to respond appropriately to unforeseen challenges?
- Did you react to unforeseen consequences of implemented solutions to problems? Give examples.
- Explain how you leveraged available resources efficiently and were quick to find alternative solutions when obstacles occurred.
- How did you react to problems when they arose?
Collaboration
- Was your department involved in the problem-solving process to foster a sense of collective responsibility and investment in the outcome?
- Do you involve team members in conversations about the problem?
- Have you worked cooperatively with others to solve problems?
- How do you encourage the sharing of information, concerns, and ideas to prevent problems from being overlooked?
- How do you get buy-in from constituents before implementing solutions?
- Did you secure the employees' agreement and commitment prior to implementing changes to prevent resistance?
- Did you engage employees in the decision-making process to ensure their support before introducing a solution to a major problem?
- Explain how you would involve team members in discussions and planning to gain their endorsement before rolling out a new solution.
Persistence
- How did you assume new and difficult challenges and manage them as opportunities?
- How do you encourage employees to stay positive and driven despite obstacles?
- How do you keep a positive outlook and persevere through challenges?
- How did you encourage employees to bounce back from setbacks and learn from failures, adapting and adjusting approaches as needed?
- How do you get employees to work diligently until the problem is solved?
- Did you demonstrate unwavering persistence even when faced with setbacks?
- Explain how you would find the best solution to a problem if extra work is needed?
- How did you maintain a strong and determined attitude in the face of difficulties?
- Did you remain resilient and motivated when encountering challenges or setbacks?