In the world of Change Management, what is the difference between: 1- problem-solving approach. 2- Process improvement appraoch.

Problem solving:  involves process of finding a solution to something needs to change or deviation from what you expected  to happen

Process improvement: It is a continual improvement process and identifying the defect of quality and eliminating the same to improve the quality of product or service

Problem solving approach identify problem, defines it well  and then solution to the problem is achieved by use of technology, guidelines, best practices etc

Process improvement approach involves group of people to get the quick solution to a problem. Achieved Solution is implemented over a team and impact is demonstrated

up to my knowledge:

• -Problem solving approach, most likely similar to Expert strategy in change approaches:

This approach sees the management of change as a problem solving process that needs to be resolved by an ‘expert’. This approach is mainly applied to more technical problems, such as the introduction of a new learner management system, and will normally be led by a specialist project team or senior manager. 

• -when Process improvement approach, looks like a Participative strategy:

This strategy stresses the full involvement of all of those involved, and affected by, the anticipated changes. Although driven by senior managers the process will be less management dominated and driven more by groups or individuals within the organisation. The views of all will be taken into account before changes are made. Outside consultants and experts can be used to facilitate the process but they will not make any decisions as to the outcomes.

The approach to be selected depends on what change is being introduced. Is the change being made to fix a problem or is it to improve a process.

Accordingly you will adopt the best suited approach or sometimes a mix of both - you might need to solve a problem created by a wrong process. So first you fix the problem and then you improve the process so that the problem does not recur.

Problem solving approach is to solve the problem which needs to be closed at the earliest. For example, there is issue in production line, it is required to be immediately sorted out. Technical skills like engineering skills would be most important to start the process back to normal.

Process Improvement approach: This is important but not urgent and does not require to be solved immediately like above example. Process is the ways in which the work has to be done to achieve desired results. Process can be improved to give higher outputs or desired output. Here the work is not stopped so there is no problem but we want to improve the output. This is process improvement to achieve higher results with same available resources.

I THINK:

1-PROBLEM SOLVING: it talks about short term approach need to recover state as it before.

2- PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: it talks about long term approach need to commitments with policy & to make developments for all process.

Problem solving: this approach to change management is in most cases "reactive" to non-conformance or an undesirable situation with the process, product and or service. This usual involves investigating current state and what has changed to cause the problem to occur. Countermeasures in this case are "corrective" and are implemented to ensure that the process remains in its "good state" all the time.  This usual results in better control of process and not necessarily improvement.

Process improvement:  This involves "pro actively" looking for opportunities to increase operational effectiveness and reduce probability of non-conformances or other undesirable situations (down time, reduced speed, waste etc). Actions taken with this approach are "preventative" and are as a result of early signs of potential non-conformities. Most effective changes are systems and process driven. Effective tools used in this approach are thorough risk management, value stream mapping and statistical process control.