Executive Report on SODA/Cognitive Mapping Methodology for Strategy Formulation and Organisational Problem Solving



Abstract

This paper describes the basic concept of SODA and Cognitive Mapping. It explains the structure and formation of cognitive maps. It explains importance and role of SODA and Cognitive Mapping in strategy formulation and organisational problem solving.

Executive Report on SODA/Cognitive Mapping Methodology for Strategy Formulation and Organisational Problem Solving

Introduction

SODA is a technique, which provides consultants the skills and a framework for solving problem; and techniques and tools of cognitive mapping to assist their client with difficult problems. It is an acronym of Strategic Options Development and Analysis. It is associated with the process of negotiation, strategy making and its delivery. The function of SODA is to make the team understand regarding the problem under their discussion. The theoretical aspects of SODA methodology include the individual, the type of organisation, and the role of technique in problem solving. It involves the development and analysis of models, which represents individual or group perspectives. SODA uses cognitive mapping as a basic framework for problem solving interventions. Cognitive mapping involves series of psychological transformations, which causes a person to acquire, store, and recall information about the specific issue. It is a process of capturing an individual's values in a diagrammatic format (Reynolds & Holwell, 2010).

Discussion

Role of SODA and Cognitive Mapping in Strategy Formulation and Organisational Problem Solving.

The technique of cognitive mapping describes the role of people in any problem solving activity. Understanding about the mental models by which people make sense of their surroundings and make the social reality is the basic function of this technique. Cognitive mapping supports decision makers in addressing many organisational problem situations. It is based on subjectivist view of an organisation. In an organisation, individuals are regarded as having their own particular view about the factors that constitutes the problem, and what should be done for improvement, all can be expressed by a cognitive map. However, the viewpoints of co-workers may be overlapping in an organisation, permit some elements of understanding that may be shared, which enable coordinated organisational strategies and planning to take place. Problem solving activity involves the collection of individual perspectives, the discussion of different constructs, and negotiation on methods of moving forward (Sokolowski & Banksc, 2010).

Cognitive mapping is based on the belief that organisational problem solving is closely concerned with language. Cognitive maps are a language-based representation of a situation and its meanings attributes to the concepts of that situation. The cognitive maps are the network of ideas connected by arrows represents relationships of all ideas with each other. Cognitive mapping provides;

A framework to assist in negotiation towards best solution.

A way of gathering ideas of several people

Provides solution to conflicting aspects of specific argumentation.

It suggests action to resolve problems.

It does not violate the original role of discussion.

It provides an environment for effective decision-making

This technique is useful in circumstances where the people feel comfortable doing group or teamwork. It is useful to get faster results by getting a large number of different views ...