Troubleshooting 101 (EN)

Problem-solving is a skill. It’s not a talent you either have or don’t have, but something you can learn—provided you know how to structure your thought process.

Problem Solving 101 teaches you exactly that. And it does so in a way that virtually no one would expect from a book in the Lean webshop: with lighthearted, colorful stories about a band that wants to attract more concertgoers, a boy saving up for a computer, and an ambitious soccer player who wants to attend the best soccer academy in Brazil.

What do you learn in Problem Solving 101?

Problem Solving 101 introduces a series of practical techniques for structured problem-solving, explained through accessible and relatable stories. The examples are lighthearted, but the techniques they illustrate are not.

You’ll learn how to clearly define a problem before jumping to solutions, how to distinguish between causes and effects, how to set achievable goals, and how to move step by step from analysis to action. The clear illustrations on nearly every page reinforce the explanations and make the concepts immediately visually and intuitively understandable.

This book provides you with a comprehensive toolkit that allows you to tackle problems systematically, whetheryou’re facing a challenge at work, in an improvement project, or in your daily life.

Why should I read "Problem Solving 101"?

Ken Watanabe originally wrote this book for Japanese high school students, believing that the fundamentals of effective problem-solving should be taught as early as possible. The fact that the book subsequently gained worldwide popularity among professionals, managers, and Lean practitioners speaks to the quality and timelessness of its approach.

Because no matter how experienced you are, the basics of problem-solving are overlooked more often than we realize. We jump too quickly to solutions, skip over defining the problem, and confuse symptoms with causes. This book is a gentle yet effective reminder that brings you back to those basics—and those basics never cease to surprise you.

For coaches and trainers, it also makes an excellent gift for team members who are being introduced to structured thinking for the first time.

Who is "Problem Solving 101" written for?

• Anyone who wants to learn how to tackle problems systematically and clearly, regardless of experience or background
• Lean coaches and trainers looking for an accessible and visually engaging book for team members who are new to problem-solving
• Managers and team leaders who want to teach their teams to identify and solve problems on their own
• Anyone who has read *Managing to Learn* or *Four Types of Problems* and is looking for an accessible companion volume

What do fellow writers think of this book?

"Watanabe demonstrates that the fundamentals of effective problem-solving don't have to be complicated. This book is straightforward, visual, and surprisingly effective for students and seasoned professionals alike." — Jim Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute

"Problem Solving 101 is the book I give to anyone who is learning to think in terms of causes and solutions for the first time. The examples are lighthearted, but the skill you build is serious." — John Shook, former CEO of the Lean Enterprise Institute

Additional Information

About the author

Ken Watanabe is a former McKinsey consultant who traded his career as a strategist for a mission: teaching children and young people how to tackle problems systematically. He originally wrote Problem Solving 101 in Japanese for high school students, inspired by the belief that problem-solving thinking is a universal skill that everyone can (and should) learn.

The book quickly became a bestseller in Japan and was subsequently translated worldwide, partly because it proved to be relevant beyond the classroom: professionals, coaches, and managers in a wide range of sectors discovered that the fundamentals Watanabe describes are exactly what is missing in daily practice.