Problems are a ubiquitous feature of any business plan or venture and the manager's prime role is to ensure that these obstacles are resolved in an orderly and painless manner. Unfortunately, in real life, most of the solutions developed and implemented, are sub-optimal and result in the underlying problem lurking, only surface again later. Business history is littered with cases where the chosen solution to a problem was, as the saying goes, 'Close, but no cigar'! In this book, Ian Woodrow offers a unique problem-solving approach for business - and life - problems, and explains why these practices are so pervasive and how one can avoid the common mistakes. By applying his six-step methodology contained in the simple mnemonic CIGARS, you will learn to: - Avoid the pitfalls of emotional perspectives - Clearly distinguish root problems from symptoms - Develop innovative solutions to problems - Effectively assess the most beneficial alternatives - Ensure that optimal solutions are selected and implemented. In addition, the book includes summaries of effective problem-solving techniques used by leading organisations today. There is also a fascinating chapter on how to improve one's creative ability in order to develop truly innovative solutions. Close, but no Cigars is an indispensable guide for anyone wishing to improve their problem-solving abilities.