The FLESS Structured Approach to Problem-Solving is an online corporate course designed for technology teams which can help
solve the following problems:
Ambiguous goals and problem statements;
Tunnel vision of tasks, ignoring the broad context;
A random, haphazard approach to finding and selecting solutions;
Inability to quickly assess the approximate financial or other business results of a project/feature;
Inability to prioritize problems by impact and importance;
Inability to justify the result to the decision makers.
To solve these problems, the Course participants will master
the problem-solving fundamentals of strategy consultants:
1
A step-by-step algorithm os solving business problems akin to that used by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other consulting companies;
2
Frameworks for defining business problems, prioritizing work, and communicating results
3
Issue trees, value chains, formulae, and matrix structures of business problems;
4
Ad-hoc structures adhering to the MECE, focus, detail, and relevance principles;
5
Market sizings and back-of-the-envelope calculations for estimating impact;
6
Top-down executive communication, storylines, and storyboards;
7
We will apply all these techniques to the current business problems of each participant.
Examples of the participants' business problems
which we covered in the previous batches of the Course:
"Should we invest into researching segment X?"
"How to attract a new audience through new affiliate promotions? "
"Should we hire a designer with a salary exceeding this position's budget?"
"How do we stop relying on a dedicated specialist to maintain automatic testing?"
"How should we implement metrics into our teams?"
"How do we increase our presence in the Y market?"
"Who should be responsible for people management on the team?"
"How will the new connection process affect product profitability and the number of new connections?"
The Course is designed with tech teams in mind:
Business analysts, data analysts, researchers
who analyze large amounts of information and make decisions based on it;
Product managers
who need to see the big picture and prioritize ruthlessly;
Engineers and data scientists
who want to grasp the business aspects of their jobs and grow into managers and executives
Tech professionals
who feel the need to think structurally for effective and efficient decision-making.
— Founder and CEO of the Fless edtech platform; — Over the past 6 years, has personally delivered over 50 courses in structural thinking and consulting interview prep; — As part of Fless, helped obtain offers to McKinsey, BCG, and Bain to more than 200 candidates. These companies' selection process is based on structural thinking skills; — Former McKinsey consultant in the European Private Equity Practice; — Dropped out of Stanford Graduate School of Business to start Fless in 2016. [Direct video link: https://youtu.be/oaESQAoHQ-E]
Course Instructor: Victor Rogulenko
Format: 4 online classes in a group of up to 20 people
Each class lasts 2.5 hours and combines a theoretical module and practice on the current problems of each of the course participants;
The course is conducted via Zoom video conference using the Miro online whiteboard. All sessions are recorded and the boards are saved for future use by participants;
Each subsequent session depends on each participant's performance in the previous session. Don't skip classes!
Class dates and times are coordinated with each team individually
4 types of structures: issue tree, formula, sequence, matrix. Examples.
Consulting approach to business (and not only) problems: problem statment, searching for solution, creative thinking, team work.
Problem Statement Worksheet. SMART questions. How to use the template.
The solution process: definition, structuring, prioritizing, planning, analytics, synthesis, recommendations.
Stakeholder Analysis Template. Examples.
Prioritization matrix. Impact, effort, ease of implementation.
Work Planning Template. "How not to boil the ocean." Examples.
The 7 "golden rules" of analytics: 80/20, 5 whys, numerical data analysis, focus on the answer, simplicity, avoiding "paralytics," triangulation, and back-of-the-envelope calculations.
Synthesis: top-down vs bottom-up. Situation-complication-resolution.