12-Steps of Problem Solving

PDCA.

These 12-Steps allow your team to sequence your activities in a logical manner. This way everyone is aware of what to do 'now' and 'next'

The 12-Step Problem Solving Methodology is a logical and complete sequence to solve problems in a group setting.  Starting from Problem Identification to Solution Implementation, the steps can be applied to almost all types of problems.

 

A Quick Overview of Problem Identification and Definition.

What is happening? Define the issues.  Setting your project scope and objective.  

Typhoon Melor (Japan). "I hope they have safety procedures in place for everyone"

The first step requires the team to focus on what they wish to pursue.  Amongst a team of mature workers, it is time to allow plenty of discussion, negotiation and persuasion amongst members and team leaders.  Next comes the time frame (step 2).  This is usually linked to some kind of event or delivery date; which are busy periods; annual vacation leaves; etc. 

Then step 3 is to get the team establish the happenings of the situation at hand. Step 4 is a sum of the aim of the project.  Target as it is called tells the team how much gap there are between hat they have and what they want to achieve.

Step 5 then asked the team for the reasons behind the problem that they have chosen.  Causes are discovered through investigation and collection of data.  Step 6 is the step is the confirmation that these causes had really contributed to the problem.

A Quick Overview of Solution Design and Implementation.

Having understood the problem, we can proceed to face the challenges, and overcome - we will!

Overcoming the problem

The first half of the PDCA deals with the problem of the project.  Time and effort has been spent on unraveling the mysteries of the problem; now at this second part, which is the next 6 steps; the team will focus on the creative generation of solutions to tackle the problem.  Solutions are new ideas to deal with the problem (step 7). 

The solutions which are created or generated need to be tested out (step 8) before they can be submitted for approval.  After testing the best of the ideas may still be improved upon, until the test-results meets the target (step 9).  When that happens the team is ready for full implementation of the improvement.  This will need the blessing of management (step 10). 

Even after that, the team would do well to ensure that the new standards are disseminated and revised or improved procedures are made into habits of everyone affected by the solution (step 11).  Then when environment do changes as is inevitable in any operations over time; review by the team may review further improvement and the PDCA cycle rolls over again.