The Microfoundations of Solving Complex Business Problems

Solving problems is a natural part of business development. Every organizational will need to solve particular problems if they hope to overcome market challenges and economic environments. The complexity of today’s global business environment requires better decision making that ensures the best solutions are forthcoming to enhance opportunities. A study by Baer et. al (2013) delves into  a theory of the microfoundations of decisions that help to predict impediments to solution formation when complex and ill-structured problems present themselves.

Problem formation has always been the fundamental stumbling block and main activity of strategic decision making (Quinn, 1980). Without solutions to problems organizations cannot move forward in their development and may be derailed by personalities, vantage points, bounded rationality, and poor decision-making process that take their toll on profitability. 

Complex problems are more likely to be derailed by the microfoundations of decision making due to the inherent self-interest of the decision makers themselves. In complex problems there are simply many more places for them to insert their own needs and interests into the solution thereby creating poor results. A problem is complex when it has lots of varying variables, a high degree of connectivity among the elements, and dynamic actions that change the situation over time (Watson, 1976). 

Teams are naturally limited by their bounded rationality or knowledge and cognitive capacity to understand and solve these complex problems (Simon 1957). Heterogeneous teams allow for greater diversity of thought and the loosening of social structure to incorporate new perspectives and vantage points into the problem. They can help avoid “tunnel vision” or the need to use their limited cognitive capacity on well-worn solutions and selective approaches. 

The authors believe that framing the problem and then formulating the root of the problem is the best approach to handing complex problems. Framing includes the writing down of symptoms of the problem, correlating those symptoms, and then settling on the important ones.  Solutions should not be discussed until all of the symptoms are agreed upon to ensure tunnel vision doesn’t make its way into the process. Once the problem is framed the seeking it is important to see determine the root cause. That root can be used as the catalyst to finding effective solutions.  

Baer, et. al. (2013). Microfoundations of strategic problem formulation Microfoundations of strategic problem formulation. Strategic Management Journal, 34 (2). 

Quinn J. (1980). Strategies for Change: Local Instrumentalism. Irwin: Homewood, IL.

Simon H. (1957). Models of Man: Social and Rational. Wiley: New York.

Watson C. (1976). The problems of problem solving. Business Horizons, 19: 88–94.

Low Fat Breakfast Burrito Recipe

Healthy choices in eating doesn’t need to be difficult if you can cook basic recipes that cut out the least healthy parts. A low fat breakfast burrito can have low fat and lots of nutrients while still tasting better than the burritos offered at many of your local restaurants. In my experience, this recipe offers all of the taste without all of the unhealthy fat. It takes around 10-15 minutes to make. 

Direction:

-Dice mushrooms, onions, peppers, and olives (may include anything else you want). Saute until tender. Approximately a ½ cup for each burrito is needed. (100 calories)

-Mix in 1 tablespoon spaghetti sauce or salsa depending on taste. (10 calories)

-Add eggs to pan while removing the yokes. (2 eggs per burrito). Cook until egg whites are finished. Ensure you add the spices you want (garlic and pepper work well). (38 calories)

-Spread out whole wheat tortilla and place mixture in center (approximately a cup). Fold tortilla to make a burrito. (92 calories)

-Use Pam or low fat oil to griddle burrito to make crispy. If you use olive oil it will be an extra 100 calories but contain healthy fats). 

Total Calorie count is 200 to 250.

Ingredients:

-Tablespoon spaghetti sauce or salsa

-1/2 cup of sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers and olives

-Spices for taste

-Eggs with yoke removed.

-Cooking oil or Pam

The Poem "The Secret of the Sea"-A San Diego Boating Experience

Boats have been a fascination for a lot of people throughout history. The boat is the primary long-distance transportation vehicle since the beginning of society. The photographs of boats taken below were from Shelter Island which has a number of nice lookout spots, parks, and other activities. 




Perhaps a poem will help you understand the fascination people have with boats and the sea. 

The Secret of the Sea by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ah! what pleasant visions haunt me 
As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me.

Sails of silk and ropes of sandal,
Such as gleam in ancient lore;
And the singing of the sailors,
And the answer from the shore!

Most of all, the Spanish ballad
Haunts me oft, and tarries long,
Of the noble Count Arnaldos
And the sailor's mystic song.

Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand as silver shines,
With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines:—

Telling how the Count Arnaldos,
With his hawk upon his hand,
Saw a fair and stately galley,
Steering onward to the land;—

How he heard the ancient helmsman
Chant a song so wild and clear,
That the sailing sea-bird slowly
Poised upon the mast to hear,

Till his soul was full of longing,
And he cried, with impulse strong,—
“Helmsman! for the love of heaven,
Teach me, too, that wondrous song!”

“Wouldst thou,”—so the helmsman answered,
“Learn the secret of the sea?
Only those who brave its dangers
Comprehend its mystery!”

In each sail that skims the horizon,
In each landward-blowing breeze,
I behold that stately galley,
Hear those mournful melodies;

Till my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through.