ProblemOps

The Living Book of ProblemOps

The Living Book of ProblemOps
An AI-generated art piece conveying the concept of ProblemOps. Credit: ProblemOps.

I am working toward a book based on the decade of experience practicing what is now referred to as Problem-Solving Operations, or ProblemOps. Chapters and snippets will be published in this newsletter. Templates for ProblemOps will be shared in Templates section. This is a way to incrementally deliver value and prove out concepts.

This table of contents will change over time as the book gets written.

It has been last updated on February 25, 2025.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Problem-Solving Operations

  1. Introduction
  2. ProblemOps Principles
  3. What Do ProblemOps Specialists Do?
  4. Developing a Shared Language and Taking Action

Part 2: Building the Language of Change

  1. Story: That's The Solution, What's The Business Need?
  2. On Assumptions and Continuous Evidence
  3. Understanding the Current State of the World
  4. What's Happening Right Now?
  5. What Are The Outcomes To Achieve?
  6. How Will We Know We've Succeeded?
  7. What Should We Commit to Now and Later?

Part 3: Collaborating Through Change

  1. Story: We're Losing a Million Dollars!
  2. Designing Continuous Problem-Solving Operations
  3. Experimenting Through Change
  4. Implementing Change
  5. Evaluating Change
  6. The Cycle Begins Again

Part 4: Building a ProblemOps Culture

  1. Story: Don't Call My Baby Ugly
  2. People-First Leadership in the Age of AI
  3. Changing Mindsets and Habits
  4. Overcoming Resistance to Change
  5. Developing ProblemOps Leadership
  6. Story: On Beans and Noses, Revisited
  7. From Reactive to Proactive
  8. People-First Problem-Solving in Complex Systems

Epilogue

  1. Story: One Small "Thank You"