In solving problems, it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that there is more to know (more alternatives) and less time to implement a solution. How can you be an effective manager under these circumstances?

I believe the answer is two-fold. First, we need to identify what information and skills we want at our immediate command, to implement without hesitation. Second, we need to identify paths to solutions that can be accessed immediately, so that a solution may be found in the shortest possible time. I call these “solution paths.”

Solutions paths are more than search queries. They include resources that are most likely to contain answers, or point to answers, such as marketing websites; they include feeds that accumulate “future answers”-responses to hypothetical problems; and they include a sequence of thinking through a problem to identify high probability solutions, such as strategic vs. tactical, immediate vs. long-term, and rational vs. emotional.

What methods do you use to solve problems quickly?