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...
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...
Project A3 Report Solving business problems on one page Share Tweet Post The Project A3 Report provides teams with a structured problem-solving approach that was created as part of the Toyota Production System (TPS). Although the tool was developed as part of Toyota’s lean manufacturing process, the A3 Report is...
Stakeholder Analysis Know the project stakeholders and their unique needs. Managing stakeholder expectations starts with a stakeholder's analysis, a tool that helps to keep everyone engaged and informed throughout the project. Share Tweet Post Conducting a stakeholder analysis includes the process for identifying key stakeholders, internal or external to an organization,...
Meeting Agenda Providing meetings with a structured purpose Meeting agendas can help clarify the meeting objectives. Agendas help participants to arrive prepared and ready to contribute. Share Tweet Post As you may know, meetings consume a lot of organizational resources. Maximize the use of the team’s time by distributing an agenda...