Solving problems, complex problems at that, involves not only good problem formulation but also a structured approach to complement it. Structured Problem Solving is simply an iterative sequence of framing hypotheses and trying them via controlled experimentation revamped for the intricacies of the world beyond the laboratory.
The following 6-step approach for Structured Problem Solving has been developed by experienced consultants using Toyota's Modified A3 Form as its base:
1. Problem Statement
2. Current Design
3. Root Causes
4. Target Design
5. Goals & Leadership Guidelines
6. Execution Plan
This approach leads to directing and communicating the organized problem resolution effort in such a way that it is both uncomplicated and efficient. An effective Problem Solving process is a result of several small, incremental changes.
The slide deck also includes some slide templates for you to use in your own business presentations.
This PPT delves into the cognitive processes involved in problem-solving, distinguishing between conscious and automatic processing. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how the human brain approaches problem-solving to enhance the effectiveness of the structured approach. This insight is crucial for leaders aiming to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within their organizations.
The presentation also covers the formulation of a precise problem statement, highlighting its five essential elements: importance, problem-solution gap, quantification, neutrality, and scope. This foundational step ensures that the problem is clearly understood and framed correctly, setting the stage for a successful resolution. The document provides detailed guidance on capturing the current state of work through direct observation, a critical step for identifying improvement opportunities.
Root cause analysis is another key focus, stressing the need for thorough examination to uncover underlying issues rather than surface symptoms. By connecting observations to the problem statement, this step ensures that solutions address the real causes of problems. The document concludes with a comprehensive execution plan, outlining specific activities, ownership, and timelines to ensure effective implementation and tracking of results.
Got a question about the product? Email us at flevypro@flevy.com.
Source: Best Practices in Problem Solving, A3 PowerPoint Slides: Structured Problem Solving: Modified A3 PowerPoint (PPTX) Presentation Slide Deck, LearnPPT Consulting
Did you need more documents?
Consider a FlevyPro subscription from $39/month. View plans here.
For $10.00 more, you can download this document plus 2 more FlevyPro documents. That's just $13 each.
Problem Solving Structured Thinking Bain PowerPoint McKinsey PowerPoint Bain Presentations Bain Frameworks Boston Consulting Group PowerPoint Consulting Frameworks PwC PowerPoint Mercer PowerPoint Bain Templates Accenture Templates McKinsey Templates Boston Consulting Group Templates Accenture PowerPoint Consulting Methodologies Booz Documents PwC Templates Capgemini PowerPoint Oliver Wyman Presentations Boston Consulting Group Frameworks E&Y PowerPoint IBM Presentations Oliver Wyman Templates Strategy Consulting Frameworks Bain Documents IBM Documents Capgemini Documents Roland Berger PowerPoint A.T. Kearney PowerPoint BCG Documents Accenture Frameworks BCG Frameworks BCG PowerPoint Oliver Wyman PowerPoint Consulting Documents BCG Presentations A.T. Kearney Documents Management Consulting Frameworks BCG Templates E&Y Templates Roland Berger Presentations Capgemini Templates Boston Consulting Group Documents LEK Frameworks Booz Allen Presentations E&Y Frameworks McKinsey Presentations Booz Allen Frameworks A.T. Kearney Frameworks IBM Templates Booz Allen PowerPoint Accenture Documents Accenture Presentations A.T. Kearney Templates McKinsey Frameworks Boston Consulting Group Presentations McKinsey Documents LEK PowerPoint Mercer Templates Roland Berger Frameworks Capgemini Frameworks Booz Presentations Roland Berger Templates PwC Frameworks Booz Allen Templates Booz Templates Strategy& Presentations Oliver Wyman Documents Mercer Presentations LEK Documents PwC Presentations LEK Templates IBM PowerPoint Capgemini Presentations E&Y Documents Oliver Wyman Frameworks Booz Allen Documents PwC Documents IBM Frameworks Mercer Frameworks Mercer Documents LEK Presentations Booz PowerPoint Strategy Documents Booz Frameworks A.T. Kearney Presentations Roland Berger Documents Business Frameworks E&Y Presentations Strategy& PowerPoint Deloitte PowerPoint Consulting Process A.T. Kearney Frameworks A.T. Kearney PowerPoint A.T. Kearney Templates A.T. Kearney Documents A.T. Kearney Presentations Meeting Facilitation Meeting Management Meeting Facilitation/Management Workshops Product Strategy Product Launch Strategy Product Go-to-Market Strategy New Product Development Lean Lean Management Lean Thinking Lean Management/Enterprise Lean Enterprise Business Framework PowerPoint Diagrams Team Management Henry Mintzberg Building Effective Teams Management Model PowerPoint Diagrams Team Building Customer Experience User Experience Customer Strategy Customer Journey Customer Decision Journey Consumer Decision Journey Customer Journey Mapping Strategic Planning Strategy Frameworks Strategy Frameworks Compilation Consulting Training Strategy Methodologies Management Consulting Training Strategy Development Company Analysis Key Performance Indicators KPI Critical Success Factors NPS Key Success Factors Net Promoter Score Product Management Cognitive Bias STEEPLE PEST PESTLE Environmental Analysis PESTEL External Analysis Environmental Assessment Maturity Model Business Maturity Model Product Lifecycle Positioning Pricing Strategy Business Case Development Financial Modeling Business Case Example Business Case Template Capital Budgeting Business Case Sample Business Case Capital Budgeting Business Case A3 Hypothesis Generation PDCA Plan-Do-Check-Act Deming Cycle Decision Making Decision Analysis RCA Root Cause Analysis Operational Excellence 8D 8 Disciplines Corrective and Preventative Action CAPA
![]() |
Receive our FREE whitepaper on the Top 101 Consulting Frameworks
Download our 200+ page guide summarizing the Top 101 Management Consulting Frameworks. Each framework provides a structured approach to analyzing and solving a common business problem. |