(Paton Professional: Chico, CA) -- That people and companies will have problems is a given: It’s the way that they face and respond to their problems that will dictate success or failure. This insight is a central tenet of Craig Cochran’s newest book, Problem Solving in Plain English (Paton Professional, 2010). In the direct, engaging prose that is Cochran’s trademark, he explains how effective problem solving can transform organizations struggling with even long-standing, complex problems. The trick, according to Cochran, is following a rigid analysis program that prevents the problem-solving team from leaping to conclusions. The result? Thorough root cause analysis and effective problem solving.

“True problem solving goes beyond the symptoms and discovers the causes of the problem,” writes Cochran. “The causes that exist below the surface are invisible until someone finds them, and they are often different from what we expected.”

Getting to the root causes of a problem is just step one in the process. Problem Solving in Plain English uses clear, concise language to guide readers through Cochran’s simple yet effective problem-solving process:

• Select the right problem

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