¶ … Vandenbosch reading resource with particular attention to the concepts of plausibility and intended and unintended consequences in designing solutions for organizational problems. Each of the conclusions in a logic diagram will point to possible alternative solutions. How does a researcher know that a solution idea is plausible? Why should a researcher identify and evaluate intended and unintended consequences of all the solution ideas? Vandenbosch (2003) offers many insights into the process of formal decision making including the challenging the very premise of going with your instincts. It is common for the cultural notion of "trusting your instincts" to be prevalent in many different ideologies, such as in management or business. However, for high-level decision making, the opposite of trusting your instincts is probably closer to the truth. The author states clearly that the consensus regarding problem solving involves three necessary steps (Vandenbosch, 2003):

1. Understand the problem

2. Identify alternative solutions

3. Select the best among them

Another insight that the author provides is that even if you go through these steps formally, if you already have a solution that you are favoring, you might be tempted to skip over alternatives by not taking them seriously or creating straw man solutions.

They challenge the idea of traditional brainstorming on the basis that it can simply create too many potential ideas that can detract from the overall potential for a planning session to be effective. For example, two hundred different creative ideas will be harder to dissect than ten that are grounded with some plausibility and practicability in mind. Despite the limitations to the brainstorming process, using local, practical, and possible ideas should determine the following steps. To further access the options, the concepts of plasticity, intransitivity, and design bias are given as useful checks before the final selection criteria, usually including factors such as time, cost, quality, and risk, are applied.
Topic 2: (1PAGE)

Examine the logic diagram you created during Unit 4 in your Applied Research Project. At this stage Findings, Conclusions, and Ethical Implications were identified. Now practice by identifying and discussing 2 or 3 solution ideas that are based on your conclusions. Discuss how you believe these solutions should be the action taken in addressing the organizational problem which you have been investigating since Unit 1.

The findings of the literature review identified…