High impact problem solving

Definition – what is High Impact Problem Solving?

High Impact Problem Solving (HIPS) is Altran Praxis’ framework for providing consultancy and delivery services. It stresses the importance of understanding: customers, the organisations within which they work, and the pressures that they face.

Without an accurate knowledge of a customer’s context an assignment cannot be effectively planned, results cannot be precisely communicated, and value cannot be efficiently delivered.

High Impact Problem Solving describes how to solve client problems effectively and can be used for all customer assignments.

Why is High Impact Problem Solving important?

Most professional services organisations sound the same – most talk of employing the best staff, of focusing on quality and of developing and deploying leading intellectual property. However, the real difference between professional services organisations is how customer value is delivered. This difference is reflected in how all customer interactions are managed, how requirements are determined, how change is managed and how problems are solved. High Impact Problem Solving is the framework Praxis uses to ensure that client value is delivered effectively, with the minimum of waste.

What is the scope of High Impact Problem Solving?

HIPS covers five core topics.

• Customer: How are customers organised? What pressures do customers face? What do customers look for when they buy services?
• Influencing: How are complex problems understood? How is agreement reached when the customer environment is changing or flexible?
• Leadership: How do you lead? How do you lead when working within a customer environment? How do you support mixed teams?
• Planning: How do you determine assignment requirements? How do you understand value? How do you identify potential sources of waste? What risks need to be managed? What activities should be carried out to ensure that value is delivered, waste is minimised and risks are managed?
• Communication: How are results effectively communicated, in written and in verbal form? How is conflict managed? How is unwelcome news effectively communicated?

How is High Impact Problem Solving embedded within Altran Praxis?

Praxis engaged with a best-in-class external training provider to refine the High Impact Problem Solving training objectives and to collaboratively produce a High Impact Problem Solving training course.

The external training provider brings their expertise in leadership, communication and organisational management. This external expertise was combined with Praxis’ expertise in consultancy planning and delivery to form an overall integrated course. The planning element of HIPS draws heavily on Lean Systems Thinking to provide a risk, waste and value-structured framework.

Finally, Praxis’ internal training programme was reviewed in order to ensure the necessary groundwork for staff is provided before they attend the HIPS course.