COURSE OUTLINE

LESSON 1

Discipline D1: 

Use a Team Approach

• Form an effective project team.
• Define roles of the team members.
• Set boundaries of freedom for the team.
• Help get the team started up.

LESSON 2

Discipline D2:

Describe the Problem

• Understand the scope and magnitude of the problem.
• Develop a Problem Statement.
• Recognize that the task is to investigate the problem, not jump to solutions.

LESSON 3

Discipline D3:

Interim Containment

• Determine if Interim Containment is needed.
• Design and put temporary measures into place to “buy time” until a permanent solution can be developed and implemented.
• Verify that interim containment measures are working.

LESSON 4

Discipline D4:

Define the Root Causes

• Use process mapping techniques to clarify the bounds of the process.
• Identify relationships between causes and the resulting effect using Cause and Effect Diagrams.
• Collect data and then use data display tools to visually analyze that data.
• Use Investigative Tools to uncover more clues to the root cause.
• Conduct confirmation runs to verify that the root cause has been found.

LESSON 5

Discipline D5:

Develop Solutions

• Identify potential solutions that address the root cause.
• Consider solution candidates that will prevent the root cause from recurring as well as detection approaches that warn if the problem may recur.
• Remove candidates that are not practical, feasible or cost-effective from consideration.
• Use decision matrices to select the most balanced solution.

LESSON 6

Discipline D6:

Implement the Solution

• Understand how to develop Action Plans using either Simple or Complex Action Plans formats.
• Learn how to use Project Management tools such as Activity Plans, PERT Charts and Gantt Charts to develop Action Plans to manage and track implementation of the solution.
• Recognize that the solution has been not fully implemented until related documentation is updated and communication has been completed with all involved parties.

LESSON 7

Discipline D7:

Prevent Recurrence

• Use techniques to ensure the problem does not recur.
• Know which associated documents and systems to update.
• Remove Interim Containment measures.
• Recognize how powerful it can be to share Lessons Learned.

LESSON 8

Discipline D8:

Congratulate the Team

• Encourage the organization to recognize the problem-solving team for a job well done.
• Ensure the problem-solving team recognizes those that have assisted them.

Course Test

Challenge

        An assessment of the learner’s progress in this course.