book / e-book

Smashing the
State of Dumb-stuck

by Nick Fleming

Most people are undermining their careers, businesses and communities by solving the wrong problems in the wrong way. Smashing the State of Dumb·stuck remedies this situation with immediate effect. It is the leading book on real-world problem solving, rich in insights for leaders and professionals that want to be impactful, sought-after and successful.

Buy Now
“A globally significant contribution to human endeavour.”
Peter Young

Trustee at Green Purposes Company (UK)
Chair of ISO Sustainable Finance International Standards Committee

“Nick provides insights that are essential for people who are serious about making our organisations and society better.”
Elizabeth Proust AO

Chair of Nestle Australia
Non-Executive Director at Lendlease
Past Chair of AICD

Get your copy today

… available through all good book stores and online retailers.
Enquiries welcome for bulk orders at discount prices in Australia.

10 outstanding features of this book

which make it arguably the best book in its genre currently available.

  • Deals with the messy, real-world problems
  • Direct relevance to professionals in all sectors
  • Integrates leading insights from multiple disciplines
  • Is packed with practical “how to” advice
  • Provides step-by-step guidelines
  • Transcends ideas to real solutions
  • Includes new proven tools and approaches
  • Illustrates the tools via real case studies
  • Provides real substance without being boring
  • Requires no prior knowledge in special fields

Reviewers are raving!

“Without doubt, the leading book on problem-solving. Essential C-suite reading.“
Tony Frencham
“It’s cleverly written, with a series of self-contained chapters that makes it easy to read.”
Susanne Cooper
“It is powerful; profound, while practical.”
Max Hardy
“Important, insightful and powerful approach to solving the big problems facing nations, corporations and communities everywhere.”
George Beaton
“Nick combines decades of management research and real-world experience in providing remarkably practical and impactful problem solving, relevant to all sectors of society.”
Clare J. Fairfield
“A real step-change in the evolution of problem-solving. A book for our times.”
Tim Jarvis
Book Sample
Free to download
MasterClass
Enquiries Here
Tools + Canvases
Free to download

Free Tools and Canvases

Download, use and share these tools. Normalise better problem-solving. It’s what leaders do.

Problem Solving Roadmap

  • Practical guide to the essential steps
  • Powerful questions to guide your action
  • Matching tools to make your work more effective

The Kick-off Canvas

  • Enables rapid problem definition and diagnosis
  • Clarifies your problem and vision of success
  • Simple but powerful tool for team sense-making

Powerful Questions Canvas

  • Reinforces the value of brainstorming questions
  • Refines and prioritises questions to drive success
  • Triggers the connection of tools to questions

Value@Risk Canvas

  • Brings value at risk from inaction into focus
  • Quantifies most material costs and benefits
  • Enables more rational decision making

Cynefin Framework

  • Exposes critical differences in problem types
  • Provides a useful problem characterisation language
  • Enables effective targeting of effort and expertise

Problem Characterisation Canvas

  • Rich expose’ of problem types in one page
  • Flags big risks to problem solvers
  • Focuses leaders on their most important work

Levels of Work Framework

  • Links problem types with levels of work
  • Outlines mindset and success styles
  • Highlights style shifts required for growth

5 Whys Canvas

  • Exposes the root causes of a problem
  • Exposes a wider suite of better solutions
  • Better focuses effort and investment

Causal Layered Analysis Canvas

  • Exposes the real causes of human problems
  • Enables testing and shifts in worldviews
  • Can catalyse transformational solutions

Program Logic Canvas

  • Sharpens your focus on outcomes
  • Ensures actions are effective and efficient
  • Valuable for program review and improvement

DREAM Model Canvas

  • Drives high value information by design
  • Enables decision-led monitoring programs
  • Achieves better monitoring while cost saving

Workshop Scoping Canvas

  • Brings focus to your desired outcomes
  • Fosters use of questions to clarify the work
  • Links tools to questions to drive productivity