Step 1
This is the first step in problem solving and requires the team convert broad concerns to a manageable scope to target.
What is 'Defining the Problem'? or 'Describe the Problem'?
One of the most used tools in identifying a problem statement consists of this graphical chart indicating that 80% of effort is spent on 20% of the benefits. Or similar.
A Pareto Chart
This chart lays out the project plan across time - showing tasks, owners, start/finish dates, dependencies and milestones.
What is a Gantt Chart?
Named after the original Size of the Output report. This tool communicates problem solving findings of the 10 steps.
What is A3?
This is a short 1-2 sentence statement that will Examine Current Performance, Describe the Problem in Quantifiable Terms, and Define the gap between what 'is' and 'is not'.
What is a Problem Statement?
These are the 2 most commonly used Root Cause Analysis techniques
What is Fishbone Diagram and 5 Whys?
It is another term for an 'Effort/Benefit' Matrix. Encouraging the team to evaluate the benefit against the ease of implementing a countermeasure.
This phrase originates from the Japanese concept of 'go and see for yourself'.
What is 'Genba' or 'Genba Genbutsu'
He prompted "If I had one hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and only 5 minutes finding the solution" which we take to mean 'Go Slow to Go Fast' in Problem Solving
Who is Albert Einstein?
This Tool cannot be performed before a Pareto Analysis, but is effective in understanding what makes the primary Pareto 20% different than the others.
What is 'Is/Is Not' or 'Comparative Analytics'
During Project Plan Development, this is an essential step before ANY Actions are taken (after approval of course)
What is Capturing the Baseline (aka 'Jumpoff Point','JOP')?
This method is a technique to help prioritize potential causes which are known to be present than on potential causes.
What is FOG Method ('Fact', 'Opinion', 'Guess')?
The final step of Defining the problem, done before any actions are taken.
What is 'Ask then Go'?
This is used to capture the process flow and standard work as it should be and the process as it really is.
'Go to Genba'
Until Proven in Step 5, Root Causes are still considered this
This usually starts the need for a 10 Step problem statement, identified by a customer, leadership, or other stakeholders. It is not a problem statement and the Problem statement should not include it.
What is the 'Business Case'?