Problem Solving
Problem Solving is an applied improvisation exercise from Business Improv in which teams tackle challenges using "Yes, And" principles and other improvisational techniques. Rather than following traditional analytical frameworks, participants generate solutions through rapid ideation, collaborative building, and the willingness to explore unconventional approaches.
Structure
Setup
Teams of four to six receive a problem statement. This can be a real organizational challenge brought by a participant or a fictional scenario provided by the facilitator. The facilitator establishes ground rules: all ideas are valid in the generation phase, building on others' contributions is required, and evaluation comes only after the ideation phase is complete.
Progression
In the first phase, the group brainstorms solutions using strict "Yes, And" rules. Every contribution must begin by accepting the previous idea and adding to it. No evaluation, no critique, no filtering. A timer runs for five to ten minutes.
In the second phase, the group reviews their generated ideas and identifies the three most promising solutions. The selection process itself uses improvisational principles: participants advocate for ideas by building on them further rather than by arguing against alternatives.
In the third phase, each selected solution receives a rapid prototype treatment. The team improvises a short scene or presentation showing the solution in action, making the abstract idea concrete and revealing practical considerations that pure discussion would miss.
Variations
A constraint version adds increasing limitations as the exercise progresses, forcing more creative thinking. A reversal version begins by solving the opposite problem (how to make this situation worse) before flipping the solutions. A stakeholder version has team members role-play different affected parties while evaluating solutions.
How to Teach It
Objectives
Problem Solving demonstrates that improvisational collaboration generates more diverse and creative solutions than traditional top-down or analytical approaches. The exercise builds the habits of building on others' ideas, deferring judgment during ideation, and making ideas tangible through action.
How to Explain It
"Your team has a problem to solve. For the next ten minutes, generate as many solutions as possible using 'Yes, And.' Every idea is valid. Build on what others offer. We evaluate later."
Scaffolding
Begin with a low-stakes fictional problem to establish the process. Once teams experience the flow of uncritical ideation, introduce real organizational challenges. The third-phase scene work may need encouragement if teams are not accustomed to improvising.
Common Pitfalls
The most common issue is participants who evaluate ideas during the generation phase, saying "Yes, and" while meaning "No, but." Watch for subtle blocking disguised as agreement and redirect to genuine building.
A second pitfall is groups that generate wild ideas without connection to the actual problem. Encourage building that stays tethered to the challenge. Creative does not mean irrelevant.
In Applied Settings
Problem Solving is used in innovation workshops, product development sessions, and organizational change management. The exercise provides teams with a structured alternative to conventional brainstorming that produces more diverse solutions. Facilitators use the scene-work phase to stress-test ideas in simulated real-world conditions, revealing strengths and weaknesses that discussion alone would not surface.
Skills Developed
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Related Exercises
Creative Solution Building
Creative Solution Building is an applied improvisation exercise in which participants use improvisational principles -- acceptance, building, and collaborative emergence -- to develop solutions to presented problems or scenarios. Rather than analyzing the problem and generating solutions individually, participants build solutions incrementally through a structured ensemble process, with each contribution extending and complying with what has already been offered.
Human Knot
Human Knot is a group problem-solving exercise in which players reach across a circle to grab two different people's hands, then untangle the resulting knot without releasing their grip. The exercise requires patience, spatial reasoning, and collaborative communication. It is one of the most widely used team-building exercises across disciplines.
Circle of Knots
Circle of Knots is a group problem-solving exercise in which players reach across the circle to take two different hands, then work together to untangle the resulting human knot. The exercise requires patience, spatial reasoning, and collaborative communication. It is closely related to Arm Tangle and commonly used as an icebreaker.
Positive Outlook
Positive Outlook is an applied improvisation exercise from Business Improv in which participants practice reframing challenges as opportunities. Through structured exchanges, players develop the habit of finding constructive possibilities in difficult situations rather than defaulting to complaint or resistance.
I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great
I'm Great, You're Great, We're Great is an energizing group affirmation exercise in which participants affirm themselves, their partners, and the ensemble as a whole through eye contact, physical commitment, and full-voiced declaration. The exercise generates collective momentum and group warmth rapidly, and it trains performers to inhabit positive energy physically rather than performing positivity from a detached or self-conscious position.
Concentration
Concentration is a category of focus-building exercises that challenge participants to maintain sustained attention amid distractions and competing demands. The exercises train participants to stay with a primary task while the environment introduces interruption, noise, or parallel activity. They are used in improv training to develop presence and in applied settings to explore how individuals and groups manage attention under pressure.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Problem Solving. Retrieved March 19, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/problem-solving
The Improv Archive. "Problem Solving." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/problem-solving.
The Improv Archive. "Problem Solving." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/problem-solving. Accessed March 19, 2026.
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