all cases, are formed to solve a problem—a gap between a current and desired condition—be it an unmet customer need or a social issue. Solving that problem inevitably involves other problems It has become popular to avoid the word problem in organizations, recasting it instead as an opportunity for improvement. • Outstanding organizations, in contrast, never fear calling a problem a problem Outstanding organizations, because they are constantly attuned to finding and solving problems, gain a great deal of expertise in identifying the most important problems and dealing with the root cause. True problem solving isn’t something that just happens. Outstanding organizations teach effective problem solving through a highly detailed methodology that includes careful problem definition, root cause analysis, and evaluation of possible countermeasures