Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

The Four Major Conceptual Blocks in Problem Solving

Don Sorrell
Student Id 536229
LDR630 (TOL): Organizational Culture and Communications
Dr. David Lucas
February 28, 2015

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

Abstract

This paper will discuss four major conceptual blocks and how they relate to creative problem
solving within an organization. This paper will define what the four major conceptual blocks are,
and my experiences with these conceptual block. I will include examples of conceptual blocks
from different organizations that I have worked for, and example from other areas that will help
us understand what these blocks are. Then we will discuss an action plan for overcoming
conceptual blocks and finish with an overview of the concepts presented here.

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

The Four Major Conceptual Blocks in Organizations

There are four major conceptual blocks that stop or slow creative problem solving within
an organization (Whetton & Cameron, 2011). These four major blocks that affect creative
problem solving are, consistency, commitment, compression and complacency. Before we can
discuss how to overcome each of these block we first need to define what each of these blocks
are, and how they stop progress within an organization.

Consistency
The conceptual block consistency can be defined as only looking at a problem from one
direction without considering other ways to solve the problem (Whetton & Cameron, 2011).
When trying to solve a problem it is easy to keep a narrow focus and try to make solution that
may not be the best answer, work for us. This vertical thinking causes frustration and stops
creative problem solving because it does not allow for a deviation from the current solution. For
example I was recently working on creating a new reporting tool for the Special Testing Team in
the Voice of the Customer Fleet at Ford Motor Company. When I was first asked to create this
tool I was asked to keep the same format and add the new test to the current report. I worked on
this for several hours and trying to get the data to match up in the report but it would not work.
After several hours of frustrating attempts I decided that there needed to be changes to the
reporting tool and scheduled a meeting with the department head of special testing to determine
if we could make changes to the tool. Not looking at alternative solutions caused me to not
complete the reporting tool, and lead to my frustration and no solution.

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

Commitment
Commitment is when you are trying to solve a problem and you only see it as a variation
of a past problem and try to utilize the same solution in a one-size fits all approach (Whetton &
Cameron, 2011). This is also considered stereotyping a problem. We all learn from our past
experiences and when it comes to finding solutions we tend to lean on that experience to guide
us to solutions. Where this is applicable to some situations, when you are dealing with problem
solving you will encounter problems that need a completely new solution to achieve the results
that you want. Think of this as problem in mathematics. In mathematics there are several ways to
solve a problem, you could use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and so on.
Stereotyping would be trying to solve all of your mathematic problems using only one of the
functions. If you are trying to solve a subtraction problem with only addition properties you will
find that with addition alone you will not be able to solve the problem, and a completely new
approach is need to get the right result. This type of thinking happens often in business. When I
worked in manufacturing, there was a problem where a manufacturing line could not make the
number of parts that they needed to have completed at the end of an eight hour shift. In the past
the way that this was corrected was by having mandatory overtime and having everyone stay
until the necessary parts were completed. In the past when this happened though, this was an
employee morale issue where the employees thought that they were being mistreated by
management. This time the problem was completely different, it was a manufacturing process
problem, and the problem cascaded into multiple shifts, the manufacturing costs when up and the
daily quotas were not being reached. By becoming committed to only one solution the problem
was not resolved and became worse. (Whetton & Cameron, 2011).

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

Compression
Compression is when your focus is narrowed to a point that you are filtering out too
much data and then make assumptions that inhibit the problems solution (Whetton & Cameron,
2011). When you filter out too much data and make assumptions you are adding constraints to
possible alternative ways to solve the problem. Going back to my manufacturing example for
commitment, the manufacturing line was not making its quota of necessary parts, and it was
assumed that it was the same problem that had happened in the past. By narrowing their focus to
it being the same problem that had happened before, they had constrained themselves to utilizing
the same solution. Their assumptions slowed the problem solving process and cost the company
time and money with no solution.
Complacency
Complacency is when you are not asking questions when trying to solve a problem
because fear, ignorance or insecurity (Whetton & Cameron, 2011). In many organizations there
is competitiveness and there are co-workers that will try to make others look inferior to make
themselves look better in the eyes of their leaders. They will exploit others weaknesses and lack
of solutions to problems. In this environment there is a culture of fear. Employees are afraid of
not knowing the solutions to problems and refuse to ask questions to define problems because
they are afraid that it might make them look inadequate (Whetton & Cameron, 2011). A few
years ago I worked for an automotive data company where this was corporate culture. My boss
was a bully, and if you did not know the answers to the questions she asked she would go out of
her way to make you feel that you were ineffective in your position. Because of this people

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

would not report problems or try to solve them by themselves to avoid looking ignorant in front
of other team members. Other members of the team developed ways to deflect their problems to
others in the group, so that they would not be on the receiving end of her attack. Every problem
was a challenge to solve because of the lack of input from the team and most problems took a
long time to resolve because of the fear of asking could questions causing them to look
inadequate to their peers.
Now that we have defined the four major conceptual blocks in problem solving let look at
how to overcome these blocks.

Breaking through Conceptual Blocks

When working to overcome the four major conceptual blocks you have to remember that
removing these blocks is a skill that can be developed (Whetton & Cameron, 2011). Breaking
through consistency as a conceptual block involves getting ideas from other sources. One way to
get new ideas is to brainstorm ideas and get additional input. Keys to successful brainstorming
are to layout the problem, then identify the results that you want from the solution, then come up
with solutions individually and finally combine the individual solutions and work through them
as a group (Adams, 2013). By identifying the problem and the desired results the individual
involved can refocus on what is needed and work towards that goal. Brainstorming this way
allows individuals to start creative problem solving without peer pressure, and introduce their
completed ideas into the group. It eliminates vertical thinking by allowing the individuals and the
group to look at a variety of possible solutions and to agree as a group on the best course of
action to solve the problem.

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

When you are dealing with commitment as a conceptual block, though past experiences
may give you a clue on how to solve the problem it may not give you the whole solution. I look
to outside sources when I run into this conceptual block. I will type the nature of the problem
into a search engine and look for others that have had to solve similar problems. This gives me
the advantage of being able to utilize their knowledge and experience to help me overcome the
problem. This also gives me fresh ideas on how I might approach the problem to get the solution
that I am looking for. The internet is a powerful tool for breaking through conceptual blocks and
start the creative problem solving process. There are many time at work when I am designing a
large Excel spreadsheets with advanced formulas and I need a formula that I cannot figure out.
By using the internet I can view videos on how to fix the problem that I am having, or read
technical manuals or ask others in discussion groups on how they would solve the problem.
Discussion groups are a great way to get advice for problems. There are many career areas that
have online discussion groups with experts in their field that will give ideas on how to solve
problems based on their experiences and on how they have dealt with similar situations.
Utilizing outside sources also is a way to break though the conceptual block of
complacency. Using outside sources and asking questions there, removes the fear and anxiety of
letting others in the organization know that you need help. You can analyze all potential
outcomes of the solution before it is presented (Mind Tools, 2015). It can also get you the
answers in many cases before you could get them from within your organization. Utilizing
outside sources also give you the ability to proactive in solving problems. Once the fear and
anxiety is removed your mind is free to look in new directions to creatively solve the problem.
When dealing with compression and filtering out too much data, the best thing that you
can do is step back and take another look at the problem. As a computer programmer I sometime

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

have to look at a large amount of programming language to find a solution to a problem. One of
the tricks of the trade is to step away from the problem for a while and take a fresh look at it
(Feuerstein & Pribyl, 2009). When you are stuck within a problem sometimes it is hard to see the
issue at hand. Take a break a step away from the problem, this helps to reduce your frustration
and stress and allows you to start thinking freely again. This will give you to opportunity to look
at the problem again and re-evaluate what you believe the problem is.

Action Plan
My action plan for breaking through conceptual blocks and starting the creative
problem solving is to first determine what the actual problem is. Take time to analyze all aspects
of the problem and determine the results that I need to solve the problem. Second brainstorm
ideas so that I have several possible solutions to the problem. Make use of outside resources to
like discussion groups, videos, and online articles to help start the creative process when
brainstorming, to ensure that you can resolve the problem and reach the results that you want
from the solution. Next, make an informed decision based on my understanding on what the
problem is and based on what I believe is the best solution to address the problem. Finally if that
does not work, step away from the problem and then make sure that I have a good understanding
of what the problem is and if the result that I want is the right one to fix the problem.

Conclusion
Dealing with the four major conceptual blocks in problem solving does not need to be a
difficult task. Making sure that you understand that you are in a conceptual block, is a key to

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

knowing what direction you should take to resolve the problem. Following an action plan for
solving problems gives you way to analyze problems and come up with solutions and avoid
many of the blocks. When you do follow an action plan you will automatically start the creative
problem solving process by brainstorming solutions and developing several ways to solve the
problem. Finally, if you do find yourself blocked step away from the problem and relax so that
you clearly look at the problem and reassess it so that you can get the results that you want from
the solution.

Running Head: THE FOUR MAJOR CONCEPTUAL BLOCKS IN PROBLEM SOLVING

10

References:
Adams, S. (2013, March 5th). 4 Steps to Successful Brainstorming. Retrieved from
www.forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/03/05/4-steps-tosuccessful-brainstorming/
Feuerstein, S., & Pribyl, B. (2009). Oracle PL/SQL Programming. Sebastopol: O'Reilly Media
Inc.
Mind Tools. (2015, Februrary 27th). Overcoming Fear of Failure: Facing Fears and Moving
Forward. Retrieved from www.mindtools.com:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/fear-of-failure.htm
Whetton, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2011). Developing Management Skills, Eight Edition. Upper
Saddle River: Prentice Hall.