Step 3 - Check

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Identify possible solutions; Select the best solution; Create an action plan

1. Generate possible solutions
  • —Write down one or more solution statements for each identified root cause
    • —Three components to an effective solution statement
      1. The action the implementation team will take
      2. What or whom the action will involve
      3. What the desired effect will be

GENERATE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
What action will you take?
To what? Or with whom?
To produce what desired effect?
Replace
 +
 spark plugs
 +
 to increase fuel economy
Improve training
 +
 for all employees
 +
 to reduce turnover
Provide recommended maintenance
 +
 on photocopies
 +
 to reduce paper waster caused by jams

  • Tools
    • Affinity Diagram


2. Rank potential solutions; select the best solution
  • —Identify the selection criteria that will be used to rank the solutions.
    • —Identify the most important customer needs.
    • —Agree on the additional criteria that will be used by the team to assess all of the potential solutions. Such as:
      • —Level of complexity
      • —Level of resources required
      • —Amount of time required for implementation
      • —Degree of control by the team
      • —Probability of change
      • —Impact on the problem (high, medium, low)
  • Tools
    • —Force Field Analysis Diagram
    • —Matrix Diagram
    • —Decision / Prioritization Matrix (pages 76-81 in Problem Solving Memory Jogger)
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3. Generate all possible tasks that can be done to implement the solution

  • —Use the solution statement to think about and brainstorm potential ways to implement the solution
  • —Tools
    • —Affinity Diagram (brainstorming)


4. Construct a detailed action plan
  • —A good action plan will document the identified tasks to implement the solution, the necessary resources, the required tasks, and the names of individuals or groups who are assigned the responsibility for completing the tasks
  • —The plan will also include milestones for assessing progress toward the team’s goals or targets, as well as measures on the performance of the process.
  • —Elements of a good action plan – page 84 in Memory Jogger
  • —Tools
    • —Affinity Diagram to organize the team’s list of brainstormed potential tasks into broad groupings of tasks.
    • —Tree Diagram to map out detailed levels of tasks.
    • —Responsibility Matrix to show which individuals are responsible for carrying out the key tasks in the Tree Diagram and include the time, budget, and staff allocations for each task.
    • —Gantt Chart to use as a scheduling and monitoring tool.
    • —Process Decision Program Chart to develop countermeasures that may occur during the implementation of the plan.



Decision Tools

  • Affinity Diagram
  • Force Field Diagram
  • Matrix Diagram
  • Decision Matrix or Prioritization Matrices
  • Tree Diagram
  • Responsibility Matrix
  • Gantt Chart
  • Process Decision Program Chart