Problems are obstacles thrown in front of us to hamper our progress.
These problems must be solved and overcome.
Problems can arise in personal, professional and social contexts.
Some problems can be solved alone, some can be by collective thought and some by using computers.
Problem solving refers to any activity or group of activities that seek to resolve problems or find a solution to solve the problems, by proceeding in an orderly fashion.
problem solving strategies examples
problem solving methods and techniques
problem solving techniques and strategies
math problem solving strategies
problem solving strategies psychology
strategies for decision making and problem solving
list of problem solving techniques
10 problem solving strategies
six thinking hats worksheet
six thinking hats ppt
six thinking hats scenarios
six thinking hats game
six thinking hats certification united states training
6 thinking hats printables
six thinking hats exercise
six thinking hats example
Steps in Problem Solving
Identification of Problems and Opportunities
Definition of Goals
Exploration of Possible Strategies
Anticipation of Outcomes and Action
Learning through Retrospection
Problem Solving through Six Thinking Hats
Advantages of Six Thinking Hats
Problem-Solving Strategies
Algorithms
Heuristics
Trial-and-Error
Insightย
Introduction to Critical Thinking SkillsHanis Razak
ย
Definition of critical thinking, core critical thinking skills, asking questions, characteristics of critical thinkers, standard for critical thinkers and exercises.
Problems are obstacles thrown in front of us to hamper our progress.
These problems must be solved and overcome.
Problems can arise in personal, professional and social contexts.
Some problems can be solved alone, some can be by collective thought and some by using computers.
Problem solving refers to any activity or group of activities that seek to resolve problems or find a solution to solve the problems, by proceeding in an orderly fashion.
problem solving strategies examples
problem solving methods and techniques
problem solving techniques and strategies
math problem solving strategies
problem solving strategies psychology
strategies for decision making and problem solving
list of problem solving techniques
10 problem solving strategies
six thinking hats worksheet
six thinking hats ppt
six thinking hats scenarios
six thinking hats game
six thinking hats certification united states training
6 thinking hats printables
six thinking hats exercise
six thinking hats example
Steps in Problem Solving
Identification of Problems and Opportunities
Definition of Goals
Exploration of Possible Strategies
Anticipation of Outcomes and Action
Learning through Retrospection
Problem Solving through Six Thinking Hats
Advantages of Six Thinking Hats
Problem-Solving Strategies
Algorithms
Heuristics
Trial-and-Error
Insightย
Introduction to Critical Thinking SkillsHanis Razak
ย
Definition of critical thinking, core critical thinking skills, asking questions, characteristics of critical thinkers, standard for critical thinkers and exercises.
Critical thinking is a intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualising, applying, synthesising and evaluating information gathered by observation, experience, reasoning or communication as a guide to belief and action.
http://www,saharconsulting.com
An Educational presentation about Problem solving and decision making using different tools and offering solutions to problem solving, creative thinking and Decision making
This presentation was made by me for providing training to the employees of Unique Contracting Co. LLC on "Problem Solving Skills". Unique is a construction company based in Muscat, Oman. It is owned and managed by the Limbani Family of Gujarat (Republic of India).
PROBLEMS ARE THE GOLDEN EGGS
problems??? day by day in our proffessional life we faces so many problems, but didn't recognize about the problem. Because we are habituate to facing to problems, if we want to solve the problems, first we can feel YES am facing a problem then you have a chance to solve it... after that we should find is it REPEATATIVE problem or New problem, on the bases of the issue we can take further steps, how to break it. how to analyse, how to find countermeasure, how to check is it suitable or not, how to make standard.... if you want to know gothrough my presentations..
This is my first presentation posted in Slideshare
Your Life Satisfaction Score (beta) is an indicator of how you thrive in your life: it reflects how well you shape your lifestyle, habits and behaviors to maximize your overall life satisfaction along the five following dimensions:
โบ1. Health & fitness, reflecting your physical well-being and healthy habits;
โบ2. Positive emotions & gratitude, indicating how well you embrace positive emotions;
โบ3. Skills & expertise, measuring the ability to grow your expertise and achieve something unique;
โบ4. Social skills & discovery, assessing the strength of your network and your inclination to discover the world;
โบ5. Leadership & meaning, gauging your compassion, generosity and how much 'you are living the life of your dream'.
Visit www.Authentic-Happiness.com to check your Life Satisfaction score. Free, no registration required.
https://www.wrike.com/blog/how-to-build-the-perfect-team-nancy-butler/ - Having the right people in place is essential to accomplishing your goals and building your business. Follow these tips from Nancy Butler, business coach and award-winning author of Above All Else, to assemble the perfect high-performing team.
critical thinking is the most important concept with every day life like, school,work place, society for more information reed this power point.five point of this power point .What is critical thinking?
โข Characteristics of a critical thinking
โข Critical thinking standards
โข benefits to critical thinking
โข barriers of critical thinking
โข How to improve critical thinking
Whether they take place at work or at home, with your neighbors or co-founder, crucial conversations can have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. You will learn how to: Prepare for high-impact situations, Make it safe to talk about almost anything, Be persuasive, not abrasive, Keep listening when others blow up or clam up, Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want
Critical thinking is a intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualising, applying, synthesising and evaluating information gathered by observation, experience, reasoning or communication as a guide to belief and action.
http://www,saharconsulting.com
An Educational presentation about Problem solving and decision making using different tools and offering solutions to problem solving, creative thinking and Decision making
This presentation was made by me for providing training to the employees of Unique Contracting Co. LLC on "Problem Solving Skills". Unique is a construction company based in Muscat, Oman. It is owned and managed by the Limbani Family of Gujarat (Republic of India).
PROBLEMS ARE THE GOLDEN EGGS
problems??? day by day in our proffessional life we faces so many problems, but didn't recognize about the problem. Because we are habituate to facing to problems, if we want to solve the problems, first we can feel YES am facing a problem then you have a chance to solve it... after that we should find is it REPEATATIVE problem or New problem, on the bases of the issue we can take further steps, how to break it. how to analyse, how to find countermeasure, how to check is it suitable or not, how to make standard.... if you want to know gothrough my presentations..
This is my first presentation posted in Slideshare
Your Life Satisfaction Score (beta) is an indicator of how you thrive in your life: it reflects how well you shape your lifestyle, habits and behaviors to maximize your overall life satisfaction along the five following dimensions:
โบ1. Health & fitness, reflecting your physical well-being and healthy habits;
โบ2. Positive emotions & gratitude, indicating how well you embrace positive emotions;
โบ3. Skills & expertise, measuring the ability to grow your expertise and achieve something unique;
โบ4. Social skills & discovery, assessing the strength of your network and your inclination to discover the world;
โบ5. Leadership & meaning, gauging your compassion, generosity and how much 'you are living the life of your dream'.
Visit www.Authentic-Happiness.com to check your Life Satisfaction score. Free, no registration required.
https://www.wrike.com/blog/how-to-build-the-perfect-team-nancy-butler/ - Having the right people in place is essential to accomplishing your goals and building your business. Follow these tips from Nancy Butler, business coach and award-winning author of Above All Else, to assemble the perfect high-performing team.
critical thinking is the most important concept with every day life like, school,work place, society for more information reed this power point.five point of this power point .What is critical thinking?
โข Characteristics of a critical thinking
โข Critical thinking standards
โข benefits to critical thinking
โข barriers of critical thinking
โข How to improve critical thinking
Whether they take place at work or at home, with your neighbors or co-founder, crucial conversations can have a profound impact on your career, your happiness, and your future. You will learn how to: Prepare for high-impact situations, Make it safe to talk about almost anything, Be persuasive, not abrasive, Keep listening when others blow up or clam up, Turn crucial conversations into the action and results you want
Provide a fundamental understanding of how analytical thinking works
Identify specific tools and techniques that students can use during the problem solving life cycle
Give students a complete framework for managing project issues โ from identification to resolution
Understand the systematic process of problem solving
Define the issue as a starting point for your project
Focus on the โdriversโ behind your issue
Know how to apply specific techniques, such as brainstorming, root cause analysis, and SWOT
Know how to test your proposed solutions before submission to the client
Know how to present viable solutions for solving critical problems
Problem Solving Tools and Techniques by TQMIAndrew Leong
ย
This handy guide is for anyone involved in problem solving and improvement activities. It contains guidelines on the use of many of the tools and techniques which can be used as part of a Continuous Improvement process.
This handy guide is for anyone involved in problem solving and improvement activities. It contains guidelines on the use of many of the tools and techniques which can be used as part of a Continuous Improvement process.
8D Problem Solving WorksheetGroup NumberGroup Member Nam.docxransayo
ย
8D: Problem Solving Worksheet
Group Number:
Group Member Names:
Date:
8-D is a quality management tool and is a vehicle for a team to articulate thoughts and provides scientific determination to details of problems and provide solutions. Organizations can benefit from the 8-D approach by applying it to all areas in the company. The 8-D provides excellent guidelines allowing us to get to the root of a problem and ways to check that the solution actually works. Rather than healing the symptom, the illness is cured, thus, the same problem is unlikely to recur.
Step
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Action
The Planning Stage
Establishing the Team
Problem Definition / Statement & Description
Developing Interim Containment Action
Identifying & Verifying Root Cause
Identifying Permanent Corrective Actions (PCA)
Implementing & Validating PCA
Preventing Recurrence
Recognizing Team Efforts
0
The Planning Stage:
The 8-D method of problem solving is appropriate in "cause unknown" situations and is not the right tool if concerns center solely on decision-making or problem prevention. 8-D is especially useful as it results in not just a problem-solving process, but also a standard and a reporting format. Does this problem warrant/require an 8D? If so comment why and proceed.
Is an Emergency Response Action Needed?
(If needed document actions in Action Item Table)
1
Establishing the Team: (Your group is the team)
Establish a small group of people with the process/ product
knowledge, allocated time, authority and skill in the required technical disciplines to solve the problem and implement corrective actions.
Team Goals:
Team Objectives:
First and Last Name (put an asterisk * after the name of the team leader)
Current Job Position
Skills (related to the problem)Years of Hospitality Work Experience
2A
Problem Definition
Provides the starting point for solving the problem. Need to have โcorrectโ problem description to identify causes. Need to use terms that are understood by all.
Sketch / Photo of Problem
Product(s):
Customer(s):
List all of the data and documents that might help you to define the problem more exactly?
Action Plan to collect additional information:
Prepare Process Flow Diagram for problem
use a separate sheet if needed
2B
IS
IS NOT
Who
Who is affected by the problem?
Who first observed the problem?
To whom was the problem reported?
Who is not affected by the problem?
Who did not find the problem?
What
What type of problem is it?
What has the problem (food, service, etc)?
What is happening with the process & with containment?
Do we have physical evidence of the problem?
What does not have the problem?
What could be happening but is not?
What could be the problem but is not?
Why
Why is this a problem (degraded performance)?
Is the process stable?
Why is it not a problem?
Where
Where was the problem observed?
Where does the problem occur?
Where could the problem be located but is not?
Where else could .
Cause and Effect Analysis is a technique for identifying all the possible causes (inputs) associated with a particular problem / effect (output) before narrowing down to the small number of main, root causes which need to be addressed.
Invented in the 1930โs by Toyota Founder Kiichiro Toyodaโs father Sakichi and made popular in the 1970s by the Toyota Production System, the 5 Whys strategy involves looking at any problem and asking: โWhy?โ and โWhat caused this problem?โ
What are the main advantages of using HR recruiter services.pdfHumanResourceDimensi1
ย
HR recruiter services offer top talents to companies according to their specific needs. They handle all recruitment tasks from job posting to onboarding and help companies concentrate on their business growth. With their expertise and years of experience, they streamline the hiring process and save time and resources for the company.
Cracking the Workplace Discipline Code Main.pptxWorkforce Group
ย
Cultivating and maintaining discipline within teams is a critical differentiator for successful organisations.
Forward-thinking leaders and business managers understand the impact that discipline has on organisational success. A disciplined workforce operates with clarity, focus, and a shared understanding of expectations, ultimately driving better results, optimising productivity, and facilitating seamless collaboration.
Although discipline is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it can help create a work environment that encourages personal growth and accountability rather than solely relying on punitive measures.
In this deck, you will learn the significance of workplace discipline for organisational success. Youโll also learn
โข Four (4) workplace discipline methods you should consider
โข The best and most practical approach to implementing workplace discipline.
โข Three (3) key tips to maintain a disciplined workplace.
"๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ต ๐พ๐ฐ๐ป๐ฏ ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐บ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ณ๐ญ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ต๐ฌ"
๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ (๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ) is a professional event agency that includes experts in the event-organizing market in Vietnam, Korea, and ASEAN countries. We provide unlimited types of events from Music concerts, Fan meetings, and Culture festivals to Corporate events, Internal company events, Golf tournaments, MICE events, and Exhibitions.
๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ provides unlimited package services including such as Event organizing, Event planning, Event production, Manpower, PR marketing, Design 2D/3D, VIP protocols, Interpreter agency, etc.
Sports events - Golf competitions/billiards competitions/company sports events: dynamic and challenging
โญ ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ:
โข 2024 BAEKHYUN [Lonsdaleite] IN HO CHI MINH
โข SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S. THE SHOW : Th3ee Guys in HO CHI MINH
โขFreenBecky 1st Fan Meeting in Vietnam
โขCHILDREN ART EXHIBITION 2024: BEYOND BARRIERS
โข WOW K-Music Festival 2023
โข Winner [CROSS] Tour in HCM
โข Super Show 9 in HCM with Super Junior
โข HCMC - Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Festival
โข Korean Vietnam Partnership - Fair with LG
โข Korean President visits Samsung Electronics R&D Center
โข Vietnam Food Expo with Lotte Wellfood
"๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ."
Premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions for Modern BusinessesSynapseIndia
ย
Stay ahead of the curve with our premium MEAN Stack Development Solutions. Our expert developers utilize MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js to create modern and responsive web applications. Trust us for cutting-edge solutions that drive your business growth and success.
Know more: https://www.synapseindia.com/technology/mean-stack-development-company.html
RMD24 | Debunking the non-endemic revenue myth Marvin Vacquier Droop | First ...BBPMedia1
ย
Marvin neemt je in deze presentatie mee in de voordelen van non-endemic advertising op retail media netwerken. Hij brengt ook de uitdagingen in beeld die de markt op dit moment heeft op het gebied van retail media voor niet-leveranciers.
Retail media wordt gezien als het nieuwe advertising-medium en ook mediabureaus richten massaal retail media-afdelingen op. Merken die niet in de betreffende winkel liggen staan ook nog niet in de rij om op de retail media netwerken te adverteren. Marvin belicht de uitdagingen die er zijn om echt aansluiting te vinden op die markt van non-endemic advertising.
Buy Verified PayPal Account | Buy Google 5 Star Reviewsusawebmarket
ย
Buy Verified PayPal Account
Looking to buy verified PayPal accounts? Discover 7 expert tips for safely purchasing a verified PayPal account in 2024. Ensure security and reliability for your transactions.
PayPal Services Features-
๐ข Email Access
๐ข Bank Added
๐ข Card Verified
๐ข Full SSN Provided
๐ข Phone Number Access
๐ข Driving License Copy
๐ข Fasted Delivery
Client Satisfaction is Our First priority. Our services is very appropriate to buy. We assume that the first-rate way to purchase our offerings is to order on the website. If you have any worry in our cooperation usually You can order us on Skype or Telegram.
24/7 Hours Reply/Please Contact
usawebmarketEmail: support@usawebmarket.com
Skype: usawebmarket
Telegram: @usawebmarket
WhatsApp: +1โช(218) 203-5951โฌ
USA WEB MARKET is the Best Verified PayPal, Payoneer, Cash App, Skrill, Neteller, Stripe Account and SEO, SMM Service provider.100%Satisfection granted.100% replacement Granted.
Attending a job Interview for B1 and B2 Englsih learnersErika906060
ย
It is a sample of an interview for a business english class for pre-intermediate and intermediate english students with emphasis on the speking ability.
What is the TDS Return Filing Due Date for FY 2024-25.pdfseoforlegalpillers
ย
It is crucial for the taxpayers to understand about the TDS Return Filing Due Date, so that they can fulfill your TDS obligations efficiently. Taxpayers can avoid penalties by sticking to the deadlines and by accurate filing of TDS. Timely filing of TDS will make sure about the availability of tax credits. You can also seek the professional guidance of experts like Legal Pillers for timely filing of the TDS Return.
Personal Brand Statement:
As an Army veteran dedicated to lifelong learning, I bring a disciplined, strategic mindset to my pursuits. I am constantly expanding my knowledge to innovate and lead effectively. My journey is driven by a commitment to excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in the world.
RMD24 | Retail media: hoe zet je dit in als je geen AH of Unilever bent? Heid...BBPMedia1
ย
Grote partijen zijn al een tijdje onderweg met retail media. Ondertussen worden in dit domein ook de kansen zichtbaar voor andere spelers in de markt. Maar met die kansen ontstaan ook vragen: Zelf retail media worden of erop adverteren? In welke fase van de funnel past het en hoe integreer je het in een mediaplan? Wat is nu precies het verschil met marketplaces en Programmatic ads? In dit half uur beslechten we de dilemma's en krijg je antwoorden op wanneer het voor jou tijd is om de volgende stap te zetten.
Falcon stands out as a top-tier P2P Invoice Discounting platform in India, bridging esteemed blue-chip companies and eager investors. Our goal is to transform the investment landscape in India by establishing a comprehensive destination for borrowers and investors with diverse profiles and needs, all while minimizing risk. What sets Falcon apart is the elimination of intermediaries such as commercial banks and depository institutions, allowing investors to enjoy higher yields.
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to ma...Lviv Startup Club
ย
Kseniya Leshchenko: Shared development support service model as the way to make small projects with small budgets profitable for the company (UA)
Kyiv PMDay 2024 Summer
Website โ www.pmday.org
Youtube โ https://www.youtube.com/startuplviv
FB โ https://www.facebook.com/pmdayconference
Affordable Stationery Printing Services in Jaipur | Navpack n PrintNavpack & Print
ย
Looking for professional printing services in Jaipur? Navpack n Print offers high-quality and affordable stationery printing for all your business needs. Stand out with custom stationery designs and fast turnaround times. Contact us today for a quote!
2. 2 of 58
ANALYTICAL THINKING FOLLOWS THE
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO PROBLEM
SOLVING
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
3. 3 of 58
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Definition:
A problem is a situation that is judged as something that needs to be
corrected โ implies that a state of "wholeness" does not exist
Importance:
It is our job to make sure weโre solving the right problem โ it may not be the
one presented to us by the client. What do we really need to solve?
Basic Concepts:
Most of the problems are initially identified by our clients
Defining the problem clearly improves focus โ it drives the analytical process
Getting to a clearly defined problem is often discovery driven โ Start with a
conceptual definition and through analysis (root cause, impact analysis, etc.)
you shape and redefine the problem in terms of issues
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
4. 4 of 58
FORMULATING THE HYPOTHESES
Definition:
Hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observation that can
be tested (i.e. proved or disapproved) by further investigation
Importance:
Start at the end - Figuring out the solution to the problem, i.e.
"hypothesizing", before you start will help build a roadmap for
approaching the problem
Basic Concepts:
Hypotheses can be expressed as possible root causes of the
problem
Breaking down the problem into key drivers (root causes) can
help formulate hypotheses
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
5. 5 of 58
COLLECTING THE FACTS
Definition:
Meaningful information (has merit โ not false) that is qualitative (expert
opinions) or quantitative (measurable performance) to your decisions
Importance:
Gathering relevant data and information is a critical step in supporting the
analyses required for proving or disproving the hypotheses
Basic Concepts:
Know where to dig
Know how to filter through information
Know how to verify โ Has happened in the past
Know how to apply โ Relates to what you are trying to solve
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
6. 6 of 58
CONDUCTING THE ANALYSIS
Definition:
The deliberate process of breaking a problem down through the
application of knowledge and various analytical techniques
Importance:
Analysis of the facts is required to prove or disprove the hypotheses
Analysis provides an understanding of issues and drivers behind the
problem
Basic Concepts:
It is generally better to spend more time analyzing the data and
information as opposed to collecting them. The goal is to find the
โgolden nuggetsโ that quickly confirm or deny a hypothesis
Root cause analysis, storyboarding, and force field analysis are some
of many analytical techniques that can applied
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
7. 7 of 58
DEVELOPING THE SOLUTION
Definition:
Solutions are the final recommendations presented to our
clients based on the outcomes of the hypothesis testing
Importance:
Solutions are what our clients pay us forโฆ
Basic Concepts:
It is important to ensure the solution fits the client โ
solutions are useless if they cannot be implemented
Running an actual example through the solution is an
effective way of testing the effectiveness and viability of
the solution
Problem
Hypothesis
Facts
Analysis
Solution
9. 9 of 58
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
A problem becomes known when a person observes a
discrepancy between the way things are and the way
things ought to be. Problems can be identified through:
โข Comparative/benchmarking studies
โข Performance reporting - assessment of current
performance against goals and objectives
โข SWOT Analysis โ assessment of strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats
โข Complaints
โข Surveys
โข Etc.
10. 10 of 58
GETTING TO THE "ROOT" OF THE
PROBLEM
Sometimes the thing we think is a problem is not the real
problem, so to get at the real problem, probing is necessary
Root Cause Analysis is an effective method of probing โ it helps
identify what, how, and why something happened
Definition of root cause:
โข Specific underlying cause
โข Those that can reasonably be identified
โข Those that management has control to fix
11. 11 of 58
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE -
FIVE WHYโS
Five Why's refers to the practice of asking, five times, why
the problem exists in order to get to the root cause of the
problem
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Employee
turnover
rate has
been
increasing
Employees are
leaving for other
jobs
Employees are not
satisfied
Employees feel
that they are
underpaid
Other employers
are paying higher
salaries
Demand for such
employees has
increased in the
market
12. 12 of 58
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE โ
FISHBONE DIAGRAM
The value of the Fishbone Diagram is that it provides a method
for categorizing the many potential causes of problems or issues
in an orderly way and in identifying root causes
Cause
Detail
Cause
Detail
Cause
Detail
Cause
Detail
Fishbone Diagram (a.k.a. Cause and Effect Diagram) is an
analysis tool that provides a systematic way of looking at effects
and the causes that create or contribute to those effects.
Result (Problem)
13. 13 of 58
OTHER ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
TECHNIQUES
Force Field Analysis โ Visually show forces that impact
your problem or issue
Scatter Diagrams โ Graphs the relationship of two
variables โ quantifies the correlation, showing how one
variable influences another
Process Mapping โ Maps the โas isโ flow of activities that
make up a process โ look for excessive handoffs,
redundancies, and other root causes of inefficiencies
Benchmarking โ Compares existing performance to
another internal or external source, identifies issues not
otherwise revealed through other techniques
14. 14 of 58
BASIC QUESTIONS TO ASK IN DEFINING
THE PROBLEM (REGARDLESS OF THE
TECHNIQUE USED)
Who is causing the problem?
Who says this is a problem?
Who are impacted by this
problem?
Etc.
Who What Where
When Why How
โข What will happen if this problem
is not solved?
โข What are the symptoms?
โข What are the impacts?
โข Etc.
โข Where does this problem occur?
โข Where does this problem have
an impact?
โข Etc.
โข When does this problem occur?
โข When did this problem first start
occurring?
โข Etc.
โข Why is this problem occurring?
โข Why?
โข Why?
โข Etc.
โข How should the process or
system work?
โข How are people currently
handling the problem?
โข Etc.
16. 16 of 58
ISSUE DIAGRAM IS AN EFFECTIVE
METHOD FOR BREAKING DOWN
PROBLEMS AND FORMULATING
HYPOTHESES
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Hypothesis #1A
Hypothesis #1B
Hypothesis #1C
Hypothesis #1D
Key Questions #1C-a
Key Questions #1C-b
Key Questions #1C-c
Key Questions #1C-d
17. 17 of 58
KEY COMPONENTS OF ISSUE
DIAGRAM
Issues
Hypotheses
Key Questions
Questions which need to be answered or
topics which need to be explored in order
to solve a problem
Speculative answers for issues that are
phrased as questions and/or areas of
exploration for issue phrased as topics
Questions that probe hypotheses and
drive the primary research required to
solve the problem
18. 18 of 58
IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Client wants to decide
whether they should
divest their widget X
manufacturing
business
Is there a market for
divesting this business?
Is this a cost effective
solution for the client?
What impacts will there be
for the displaced
employees?
What key topics should
we explore to help the
client solve this problem?
19. 19 of 58
KEY TO IDENTIFYING ISSUES
1. Develop a comprehensive list of all possible issues related
to the problem
2. Reduce the comprehensive list by eliminating duplicates
and combining overlapping issues
3. Using consensus building, get down to a โmajor issues listโ
(usually two to five issues)
20. 20 of 58
FORMULATING THE HYPOTHESES
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Hypothesis #1A
Hypothesis #1B
Hypothesis #2A
Hypothesis #2B
Hypothesis #3A
Hypothesis #3B
Market Interest?
Cost
Effectiveness?
Impacts on
Employees?
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
Divest Widget X
Business?
The market is large.
What are some
possible answers to
the issues?
Large percentage of
employees will likely retire
in two years.
21. 21 of 58
FRAMING THE KEY QUESTIONS
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Hypothesis #1A
Hypothesis #1B
Hypothesis #2A
Hypothesis #2B
Hypothesis #3A
Hypothesis #3B
Market Interest?
Cost Effectiveness?
Impacts on
Employees?
Divest Widget X
Business?
The market is large.
What questions need to be
answered to prove/disprove
the hypothesis?
Large percentage of
employees will likely retire
in two years.
Key Question #1A-a
Key Question #1A-b
Key Question #1A-c
How many players
are there in the
market?
How many are
large enough to
take on the client's
business?
Key Question #3A-a
Key Question #3A-b
Key Question #3A-c
How many
employees are 50
years old or older
and interested in
retiring?
22. 22 of 58
COMMON PITFALLS IN CREATING
ISSUE DIAGRAM
Issues
Hypotheses
Key Questions
Issues which are:
โข Too broad, which expand beyond the objectives
โข Too narrow
โข Too many to be easily remembered
โข Of uneven weight
โข Not sequenced effectively
Hypotheses which are:
โข Too few to cover the issue
โข Too many to be easily remembered
โข Not supportable by data
โข Not directly relevant to the issue
Key questions which are:
โข Too few to test the hypotheses
โข Too many to be easily remembered
โข Irrelevant to the hypotheses
โข Not answerable with data
23. 23 of 58
KEY MESSAGES
Issue diagrams provide a framework for brainstorming
and documenting the issues driving the problem and
identifying the facts (i.e. data) required to support
conclusions and recommended solutions
Hypotheses and the key questions will help shape data
collection requirements and ensure that only relevant data
is collected
Formulation of hypotheses and key questions is an
evolving process โ they will need to be revised as new
insights and discoveries are made
24. 24 of 58
BRAINSTORMING โ A METHOD FOR
IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND FORMULATING
HYPOTHESES
Brainstorming is useful when there is a wide range of
possible issues and solutions
Brainstorming is not appropriate for testing an idea; it is
used to generate ideas
There are numerous brainstorming techniques, which
include group brainstorming, individual brainstorming,
and storyboarding
Individual brainstorming is usually not recommended
unless time is too tight, participants are rarely available,
group is too large, etc.
Brainstorming can be useful for Force Field Analysis โ
identifying all forces impacting the problem
25. 25 of 58
TIPS FOR BRAINSTORMING
1. State the purpose and objective of the brainstorming
session from the onset
2. Set ground rules for participants
3. Give everyone an opportunity to participate
4. Solicit all ideas and opinions โ nothing is rejected until
consensus building takes place
5. After exhausting all ideas, eliminate certain ideas, e.g. not
relevant, duplicative, etc.
6. Finalize outcome of the brainstorming process through
consensus: Highest Priority, Assigning Points, etc.
27. 27 of 58
GETTING TO THE FACTS
In order to answer the key questions and validate the
hypotheses (presented in the earlier steps), collection of
factual information is necessary
First critical steps are to identify what information, i.e. data
elements, is required and develop a data collection
approach/technique
Depending on the type of problem being solved, different
data-collection techniques may be used
Combining a number of different techniques allows
looking at problems from different perspectives
Data collection is a critical stage in problem solving - if it is
superficial, biased or incomplete, data analysis will be
difficult
28. 28 of 58
USING THE ISSUE DIAGRAM TO IDENTIFY
DATAAND INFORMATION NEEDS
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Hypothesis #1A
Hypothesis #1B
Hypothesis #2A
Hypothesis #2B
Hypothesis #3A
Hypothesis #3B
What information or data
needs to be collected to
answer these questions?
Key Question #1A-a
Key Question #1A-b
Key Question #1A-c
How many are
large enough to
take on the client's
business?
Key Question #3A-a
Key Question #3A-b
Key Question #3A-c
How many
employees are 50
years old or older
and interested in
retiring?
โข Number of
companies in the
industry
โข Revenues for the
last 5 years
โข Etc.
โข Ages of the
employees
โข Employee interest
level
โข Etc.
29. 29 of 58
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
Using Available
Information
Observing
Interviewing
Administering Written
Questionnaires
Conducting Focus
Groups
Using data that has already been
collected by others
Systematically selecting, watching
and recording behavior and
characteristics of people, objects or
events
Oral questioning of respondents,
either individually or as a group
Collecting data based on answers
provided by respondents in written
form
Facilitating free discussions on
specific topics with selected group
of participants
Technique
โข Checklist
โข Data compilation forms
Description Tools
โข Eyes and ears
โข Data compilation forms
โข Interview guide
โข Data compilation forms
โข Survey
โข Questionnaire
โข Flip charts
30. 30 of 58
IMPORTANCE OF COMBINING DIFFERENT
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
A skillful use of a combination of qualitative and quantitative
techniques will give a more comprehensive understanding of the
Qualitative Techniques
(Flexible)
Quantitative Techniques
(Less Flexible)
VS.
โข Produce qualitative data that is often
recorded in narrative form
โข Useful in answering the "why", "what",
and "how" questions
โข Typically includes:
โ Loosely structured interviews using
open-ended questions
โ Focus group discussions
โ Observations
โข Structured questionnaires designed to
quantify pre- or post-categorized
answers to questions
โข Useful in answering the "how many",
"how often", "how significant", etc.
questions
โข Answers to questions can be counted
and expressed numerically
32. 32 of 58
CONDUCTING THE ANALYSIS
The next step in problem solving is to "make sense" of the information
collected in the previous step
There is an abundance of analytical techniques that can be applied for
understanding:
What are the most important issues? Pareto Analysis
What forces can influence the problem?
What are the core competencies of the client?
What performance areas are weak?
Force Field Analysis
SWOT
Benchmarking
33. 33 of 58
SPECIFIC SEQUENTIAL STEPS THAT
LEAD UP TO THE ANALYSIS
Make sure you know what you are trying to solve โ Clearly defined issues or
questions drive the analysis!
1
2
3
Once youโve matched up the analytical tools against the question or issue, then
go out and collect the facts
Match up the clearly defined question or issue with the appropriate analytical
tool(s)
34. 34 of 58
APPLY ANALYTICAL TOOLS AND MOVE
BACK UPSTREAM
Problem
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Hypothesis #1A
Hypothesis #1B
Hypothesis #2A
Hypothesis #2B
Hypothesis #3A
Hypothesis #3B
What analysis needs to
be done to answer this
question?
Key Question #1A-a
Key Question #1A-b
Key Question #1A-c
How many are large
enough to take on the
client's business?
Key Question #3A-a
Key Question #3A-b
Key Question #3A-c
How many employees
are 50 years old or
older and interested
in retiring?
# of companies in
industry
Revenues for last 5
years
Age of employees
Employee interest level
in retiring
1. Start with clearly defined issues or questions
2. Select the Analytical Tool
Benchmarking
3. Collect required information per
the Analytical Tool selected
4. Once you complete your analysis, move back upstream
to answer the key question you started with
35. 35 of 58
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES
Benchmarking โ Compare and measure a process or activity against
an internal or external source
SWOT Analysis โ Assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
and threats
Force Field Analysis โ Overall environmental landscape and how it
impacts the subject
Cost Benefit Analysis โ Compare total equivalent costs (all the
minuses) against equivalent value in benefits (all the pluses)
Impact Analysis โ What if type analysis to assess the impact of change
on an agency
Pareto Chart โ Bar Chart for categorizing issues or other attributes in
terms of importance
36. 36 of 58
BENCHMARKING
Measures and compares your performance against other similar
activities or processes internally or externally
Differences indicate possible performance issues
May be difficult to collect comparable measurement data
Comparing โbest in classโ performance is better than comparing
average performance
Best sources of data are in the private sector -Hays Benchmarking,
Benchmarking Exchange, The Benchmarking Exchange, etc.
37. 37 of 58
BENCHMARKING EXAMPLE
Air Force . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Days
Army . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Days
Canadian Army . . . . . . 145 Days
Navy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Days
Average Days for Source Selection
38. 38 of 58
SWOT โ STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Identifies Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats by
asking: What things are we good at, what things are we
not good at, what things might we do, and what things
should we not do?
Probably the most common analytical tool for strategic
planning
Somewhat subjective
Easy to understand and follow
Very useful for identifying the core competencies of any
organization
39. 39 of 58
SWOT EXAMPLE
Internal Assessment of the organization, its people, services, competencies, etc.
External Assessment of direct and indirect forces, social, economic, political, etc.
Client has a global infrastructure to
service all types of customers
Strengths Weaknesses
Services are in high demand in most
parts of the world
Client has limited resources for
expanding its global reach
Key processes are not very cost competitive
when compared to other service providers
Untapped demand exists in almost half
of the World
New Technologies make it possible to
expand service reach
Other clients are investing in newer
technologies
Some clients are entering into strategic
partnerships to expand their global
footprint
Threats
Opportunities
40. 40 of 58
FORCE FIELD
Visually shows significant forces that impact the problem
Forces tend to be those factors that promote or hinder a
solution to a problem
Prioritize forces between direct (more important) and indirect
(less important)
May need to brainstorm to generate ideas to list all forces
41. 41 of 58
FORCE FIELD EXAMPLE
โข Defense Department is promoting the
Balanced Scorecard
โข Federal Public Sector has mandates such
as GPRA
โข Lower level agencies have balanced
scorecards in place
โข Strategic planning is growing in
importance within the entire public sector
Direct โ More Important Indirect โ Less Important
Positive Forces โ
Promotes the Solution
Problem: Agency is not strategically focused
Negative Forces โ
Inhibits the Solution
โข Public Sector mandates lack enforcement
teeth โ no major urgency to become
strategically focused.
โข Agency is not resourced to develop
strategic plans and execute on non-
strategic issues
โข Agency has too many other change
initiatives going on
42. 42 of 58
COST BENEFIT
Identify all expected costs and benefits to make sure the
decision has economic merit.
Costs includes all tangible outlays (time, money, etc.) and
intangible /qualitative factors where you can assign some value
Compare using a set of decision criteria โ oranges to oranges,
apples to apples, etc.
Look at the net changes between making the decision vs. not
making the decision
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-94 provides
guidelines on how to do cost benefit analysis in the Federal
Public Sector.
43. 43 of 58
COST BENEFIT EXAMPLE
โข Software License Fees
โข Upgrade network capacity
โข Database development time
โข Training of end-users
โข Requires regular maintenance
The Costs (minuses) The Benefits (pluses)
Choice A: Proposed Solution - Design and develop an on-line database system
โข Consistent Reporting
โข Reduced Data Entry
โข Much faster turnarounds when
updating master records
โข Improved accuracy in reporting
Choice B: Do Nothing โ Status Quo
โข Software License Fees
โข Maintenance Costs
โข Planned Upgrades
Change in Costs Choice A โ B = $ 700,000 Change in Benefits Choice A โ B = $ 950,000
Net Benefit =
$ 250,000
44. 44 of 58
IMPACT ANALYSIS
Identifies broad and diverse effects or outcomes
associated with a problem and/or the proposed solution
Answers certain questions: How will this change impact
our agency? What are the consequences of not acting on
the problem?
Objective is to minimize adverse or negative impacts
going forward
Very useful in assessing risk of different proposed
solutions โ helps you reach the right solution
Numerous tools can be used to assess impacts
45. 45 of 58
IMPACT ANALYSIS TOOLS
Scenario Playing โ Storyboarding out how the future will unfold
between alternatives: Do Nothing vs. Solution
Cost Benefit Analysis - Used to quantify impacts
Decision Tree Analysis โ Build a tree and assign probabilities to
each alternative to arrive at the most likely solution
Simulation โ Modeling a process and seeing how it changes
when one or more variables change
Prototype Model โ Build and test the solution on a small scale
before implementation to flush out lessons learned
46. 46 of 58
PARETO ANALYSIS
Quantifies what is most important on a graph โ 80 / 20 Rule
Puts focus on the significant problems or issues
Must group problems or issues based on a common and
measurable attribute (such as reworks, errors, downtime, hours,
etc.) = Left Vertical Axis of Bar Chart
Must categorize problems or issues โ what type is it? (poor
quality, long wait times, etc.) = Right Horizontal Axis of Bar Chart
Plot the data and rank according to frequency โ descending
order from left to right
47. 47 of 58
PARETO CHART
Categories Causes, Products, Mfg. Lines, Operators
Machines, Defect Types, etc.
Downtime,
Errors,
#
of
Employees,
etc.
48. 48 of 58
KEY MESSAGES
Donโt rush out and collect information until you know what analytical
tools you need to use โ each tool has its own information needs
Use a combination of tools to cover all the bases
All decisions involve some assumptions โ so you will never have all the
facts
Analysis is a discover driven process, it moves incrementally in baby
steps โ you learn, adjust and go through numerous iterations until you
have insights; i.e. you can now take action on the issue or problem
50. 50 of 58
BASIC CONCEPTS
Select and plan the solution that has the greatest impact on
solving the problem
Use a solutions rating matrix to weigh different solutions based
on selection criteria (costs, probability of success, ease of
implementation)
Solutions should have support from your previous analysis that
you can clearly communicate to the client
Test your solutions as much as you can โ use some of the
Impact Analysis Tools
51. 51 of 58
KEY MESSAGES
100% out-of-the box solutions donโt exist
No solution is a guarantee โ be flexible with implementation and be
willing to revisit your requirements
Solutions rarely work unless you get buy-in and commitment from the
client โ if the client refuses to accept the solution, it will not work!
Be prepared to back up your solution with an implementation plan,
complete with milestones to measure performance
52. 52 of 58
COMMON LAND MINES THAT BLOW
ANALYTICAL THINKING APART
Once a problem is defined, Professional Consultants must have some
ability to develop a possible solution. If the Consultant has no control
to make recommendations for a problem, then the problem has been
defined outside the scope of the project.
The clientโs definition of the problem may not be correct. The client
may lack the knowledge and experience that Professional Consultants
have.
Since most problems are not unique, Professional Consultants may be
able to validate the problem and possible solutions against other
sources (past projects, other experts, etc.).
The best solutions to a problem are often too difficult for the client to
implement. So be careful about recommending the optimal solution
to a problem. Most solutions require some degree of compromise for
implementation.
53. 53 of 58
SUMMARY
Analytical Thinking follows the Scientific Approach
Five Step Process for Consultants:
- Define the Problem
- Test in the form of Hypothesis
- Focus on Facts
- Analysis (Various Analytical Tools)
- Recommend a Solution