5 Whys Analysis Apply 5 Whys to determine the root cause of the problem When seeking to solve a problem, it is essential that the project team understand the key contributing factors to why the problem is occurring. The 5 Whys Root Cause Analysis provides a simple,...
Elevator Speech An elevator pitch is a great way to clearly explain a proposed idea in a short span of time. Share Tweet Post An Elevator Pitch, or Speech, is a common framework for helping to articulate why a project is important and what success looks like. An Elevator Speech...
GEMBA Use the gemba to collect information on how a process is currently being performed. Share Tweet Post What is gemba? An important part of improvement is taking the time to understand how a process is done by observing the process and connecting with the people who perform the process. By...
Brainstorming Engaging project team members and stakeholders in suggesting issues and solutinos. When working with project teams it is useful to host brainstorming sessions to collect the team's ideas on what the major issues are and what ideas they have to fix the problem. Share Tweet Post The use of Brainstorming...
Responsibility Matrix (RACI) Apply RACI to clarify project (or process) ownership Whether you are trying to clarify ownership for important tasks associated with completing a project or process steps for delivery certain products or services to a customer, the RACI matrix helps to clarify who owns what...
Process Mapping Summarizing the critical steps of your business processes Process mapping is the activity of documenting and visualizing the process steps taken to create/deliver the organization's products and services to its customers. Share Tweet Post Process maps are useful for many reasons. Process maps help managers and operators to discover...
8 Wastes of Lean Targeting the common forms of process waste in Lean By knowing and addressing the common forms of process waste in Lean, teams can start to make processes smarter, faster, and simpler - thus, maximizing value for customers. Share Tweet Post Henry Ford and other improvement gurus have...
SMART Aim Statement Create a clear goal that gives the project purpose and direction. In the early stages of the project, creating a project aim using the acronym SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) helps the team to be clear on what success looks like. Share Tweet Post SMART is...
Problem Statement Summarizing the Who, What, When/Where, and Why of the Problem The problem statement is a concise description of the issue that needs to be addressed. In process improvement, defining the problem is a critical step in solving the problem. As the saying goes, "a well-defined...
Communication Plan Ensure all parties have the information they need to act The communication plan details who the stakeholder groups are, what their preferred communication methods are, what information they need, and the frequency in which the information is shared. Share Tweet Post Creating and documented a clear communication plan can...