PIPS

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The phases of integrated problem-solving (PIPS) technique (Morris and Sashkin, 1978) described by VanGundy (1981; 1988), is a variation of the classic Creative Problem Solving - CPS method. However, in addition to defining the range of analytic steps required, PIPS also defines the inter-personal actions needed for each step, as shown in the table below:

	Problem-solving Tasks	Inter-personal Tasks
1. Problem Definition	Search for information about the problem Detailed understanding of problem situation Agreeing group goals	Does the information search involve everyone? Open sharing of problem information Consensus building
2. Solution Generation	Brainstorm ideas Elaborate and refine ideas Develop tentative list of solutions	Encourage all to brainstorm Encourage no criticism Encourage co-operation when listing solutions
3. Ideas into Action	Evaluate strengths/weakness of each idea Try combining good ideas Select a tentative solution	Avoiding non-productive criticism Resolving conflicts over combining/ modifying ideas. Consensus building
4. Action Planning	List steps needed for implementation Identify resources needed Assign responsibilities for each step	All participate in listing steps Group adequately evaluates available resources Develop real commitments
5. Plan Evaluation	Success measures for each step Timetable to measure progress against Contingency planning in case steps need modifying	All contribute to developing success measures All comfortable with time-table Real commitments for contingency plans
6. Evaluate product and process	How well do effects of solution match original goals? Identify any new problems created Any future actions needed?	How much group participation overall? Are self-expression and offers of support easy? What has group learned about itself?

To work effectively PIPS requires:

• Problem-solving group
• A Facilitator
• An observer to monitor the problem-solving tasks
• An observer to monitor the inter-personal tasks

In theory the observer’s roles should be rotated, in as much as, at the end of each phase the previous observers would swap with others in the problem-solving group. The authors of the PIPS technique also provide a questionnaire (considerably more detailed than the table above) which all participants have for reference, but which the observers fill in. There is a general review at the closing stage of each step of the process issues, and members only go on to the next step when all the tasks of the previous step have been satisfactorily completed.

The complete PIPS process is almost certainly too cumbersome for routine problem solving, but may prove beneficial for training. Thus the general rule of placing explicit inter-personal goals alongside the task goals of any problem-solving method has a lot to be said for it.