Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) is a procedure where teams work together on projects and fetch diverse viewpoints or expertise through discussions with the aim to resolve complex issues. In today’s modern workspaces, collaboration is considered a key to fostering innovation and tackling challenges since not a single person has all the answers.

Besides, it encourages shared responsibility, open communication, and blending skills to infer creative and well-rounded solutions. To structure these collaborative efforts, individuals and teams use problem-solving models such as the IDEAL model and Six Thinking Hats.

By incorporating these frameworks, they avoid common pitfalls like miscommunication and groupthink, ensuring collaboration leads to sustainable outcomes. Thus, read the following discussion to learn more about CPS, some practical models, and how to implement one.

Part 1. Understanding Collaborative Problem Solving

CPS, collaborative problem solving is a structured approach in which individuals and teams communicate to analyze potential solutions to a complicated project. It is like teamwork, which requires active engagement in discussions and contributions from diverse perspectives. This approach thrives in settings that value inclusivity and willingness to listen. Consequently, successful CPS brings critical thinking, an efficient work environment, and a problem-solving culture.

Suppose your clients are launching a new product, and being a part of a marketing agency, you need creative ideas to develop a marketing plan for them. Believing the Aristotle quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” you would conduct a brainstorming session with your team. In that session, sales, finance, and other departments must collaborate to tackle company-wide challenges and design a well-applicable marketing strategy.

Part 2. Popular Problem-Solving Models for Collaboration

Now that you know that effective problem-solving lies in team collaboration, let us remind you that several models have been designed to help individuals successfully initiate CPS. If you wish to enhance your team collaborations, you can review a few of the most popular problem-solving models given below:

1. 5 Why Techniques

This model follows the fact that when mental health professionals know about the root cause of a disorder, they are more likely to treat it better. Thus, it works by repeatedly asking “Why,” technically five times, to peel away the layer of symptoms leading to the problem’s root cause. Initially, Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota Industries, developed it to avoid surface-level solutions.

In team settings, it fosters team discussion and challenges assumptions by involving each member in questioning. For instance, if a company faces production delays, the project manager can conduct a meeting and put five critical questions on the table. Each response can lead to another question, and the discussion can continue until the group identifies underlying causes.

2. Six Thinking Hats

In this model, each team member is assigned a different hat representing a particular perspective. Since every team member wears a different hat, all angles of the problems are discussed. It primarily boosts parallel thinking and well-adjusted decision-making. Delving deeper, the red hat represents emotions and gut feelings, whereas the white hat focuses on data and facts.

Additionally, a black hat means caution and judgment, while yellow stands for positivity and benefits. The green hat emerges as a creativity booster, and the blue hat manages the thinking process. Anyhow, this collaborative problem-solving approach was designed by Edward De Bono in 1985, but it’s still a leading structure for group discussions.

3. IDEAL Model

Another well-known problem-solving process is IDEAL, developed by Bransford and Stein in 1984 to enhance critical thinking in children. It is an abbreviation of Identify the problem, Define an outcome, Explore possible strategies, Anticipate outcome & Act on strategy, and Look & Learn. This strategy is widely used in workplaces today, where employees role-play problems and coaches provide feedback until everyone feels confident about potential measures.

Take the example of a group working on identifying and defining problems while others explore possible outcomes and solutions, encouraging teams to work methodically. After evaluation, the whole team sits together and reflects on what worked and what could be improved, making the process cyclical for continuous improvement.

4. The SCAMPER Model

SCAMPER is a creative thinking model that stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. Bob Eberle created this problem-solving model in 1970 based on the idea that innovation always derived from existing stuff. It helps generate new ideas when individuals prompt different approaches to an existing process.

For example, you can take a product redesigning process in which teams suggest which features are unnecessary and should be eliminated. Moreover, suggestions can come forward on combining features from different versions and adapting parts of designs into a new product concept.

Part 3. Implementing Collaborative Problem Solving With Xmind AI

Since it’s a digital era, collaborative problem-solving discussions also need multimedia support to streamline processes with visuals like mind maps. Therefore, introducing you to Xmind AI, which is an online tool that lets you craft mind maps from scratch or via pre-designed templates. Using it, anyone can transform their individual or team ideas on a compelling display that is easily interpreted and implemented.

To foster collaboration, it facilitates project-sharing features, where users can manage access to their problem-solving models crafted on Xmind AI. Project-sharing features involve sending email invitations or URL links, publishing the final version on websites, or obtaining embed codes. Surprisingly, it is equipped with Copilot AI capability that empowers brainstorming when you are stuck somewhere working alone or with teammates.

How to Create a Collaborative Problem-Solving Structure Using Xmind AI

Imagine your fashion brand is going to make a massive shift toward utilizing sustainable materials without raising costs. To do so, you have planned a meeting with the supply chain, product design, customer services, finance, and marketing departments. In that context, follow the instructions below and try Xmind AI to coherently visualize each member’s idea without messing up the central concept:

Step 1. Create a New Map Using Xmind AI Templates

First, go to Xmind AI’s official site and create an account by pressing the “Get Started for Free” button at the top right. Later, hit the “New Map” button and choose a template that resonates with your needs, such as “Company Structure.”

Step 2. Add Topic and Sub-Topics for Map Structuring

After choosing a template, navigate to another screen displaying your selected design for comprehensive editing. Double taps the central box to edit its text and click one topic to generate a new one using the “Topic” icon at the bottom floating bar. You can select a sub-topic to create a corresponding one through the “Sub-topic” icon at the bottom toolbar.

Step 3. Embed Image and Link in the Marketing Cell

Once your desired structure is set up, double-tap on each available text box to enter your text. Then, choose the marketing topic, hit the “Link” icon from the bottom, and paste the URL link for the marketing ideas. Plus, use the “Picture” icon at the bottom bar and upload an image of your marketing campaign.

Step 4. Insert Equation and Notes in the Finance Cell

Move toward the Finance cell, click the “Equation” icon, and add numerical values or calculations if required. Also, use the “Notes” icon to insert additional information that might seem cluttered if added directly to topics or sub-topics.

Step 5. Clarify Topics and Groups by Adding Boundaries

By any means, if you feel the map cluttered, select sub-topics and tap the “Boundary” icon at the bottom. You can add boundaries to the “Finance” and “Product Design” topics to group them for clarity.

Step 6. Style and Format Map for Personalized Theme

Since the map is customized, go to the top-right corner and hit the “Style and Format” icon. From the extended menu, choose the “Map” icon in the middle of the top toolbar and find theme-changing options. Expand the color wheel icon and change the map’s theme to align it with your fashion company’s branding. Using the “Style and Format” menu, personalize the map to your desired extent and make it appealing yet coherent.

Step 7. Share the Map With Teammates for Collaboration

Afterward, access the “Share” button and get a dialogue box with multiple collaboration options. Decide whether you want to collaborate with your team via “Invite,” “Publish,” or “Embed” options. For now, click the “Copy Map Link” to get a URL and share it with teammates you wish to collaborate with.

Tap “Enter Email to Invite” and navigate to the next screen of the dialogue box to add an email. There, manage access by hitting the “Can View” option and adjusting it to “Can Edit” before pressing the “Send Invitations” button.

Step 8. Download the Map After Customization

Upon collaborating to resolve the problem, save the project on your device by heading to the “Hamburger” icon at the top left. Using its extended menu, hover over the “Export As” option and pick one format you intend to download your project in, e.g., PowerPoint.

Conclusion

Now, let’s wrap up the discussion since you have learned enough about collaborative problem-solving. From various problem-solving models to creating your own, this article explains everything. Analyzing the whole discussion, it seems that Xmind AI was the showstopper who created eye-catching and detailed maps. You are advised to try this online tool to create effortless mind maps and resolve issues with AI brainstorming capabilities.