Problem-Solving Techniques

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Decide when to use a Cause & Effect Diagram

• Identify four to six main categories that could be the cause of the problem

• Break each category down into possible root causes of the problem

Using basic pencil and paper, you can come up with lots of ideas for what is causing a problem using a Cause & Effect Diagram.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Check Sheet

• Decide when to use a Check Sheet

• Outline a set of criteria for creating a Check Sheet

• Distinguish between Tally and Defect Map Check Sheets

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Use a search engine to generate random ideas

• Wander though search results

• Generate possible solutions

• Increase creativity

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Explain what is meant by the Circle of Opportunity

• Use associations to search for ideas and solutions

• Create a list of questions to ask

• Generate a Circle of Opportunity diagram

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Describe what is meant by Pareto Analysis

• Know when to use Pareto Analysis

• Use a Step-by-Step procedure to draw a Pareto Chart

• Identify the critical few from the trivial many

• Use the results of Pareto Analysis to gain insights into which problems should be prioritised

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to draw a Pareto Chart with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by Value Analysis

• Know when to do a Value Analysis

• Identify components of a system

• Identify functions of components

• Prioritise functions with highest costs

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what a requirement is

• Prioritise requirements based on:
  - Must
  - Could
  - Should
  - Won’t

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by SWOT Analysis

• Use SWOT Analysis to:

• Build strengths

• Overcome weaknesses

• Explore opportunities

• Minimise threats

• Use SWOT Analysis as a framework for matching an organisation's goals and capacities to the environment in which it operates

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by PEST Analysis

• Consider political factors

• Look at economic factors

• Consider social and cultural influences

• Examine technological competitive advantage

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Know when to use a Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Calculate a Cost-Benefit ratio

• Make a decision based from a financial point of view

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Use the Weighted Scoring Model as a decision making technique

• List criteria for making a decision

• Add weightings to each criteria

• Calculate a weighted score for each solution

• Make a choice based on highest weighted score

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to calculate a Weighted Score with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Flow Chart

• Know when to use a Flow Chart

• Use four basic Flow Chart simple to draw a Flow Chart

• Use a Flow Chart to identify possible areas for process improvement

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to draw a Flow Chart using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a SIPOC diagram

• Follow a step-by-step procedure for creating a SIPOC diagram

• Use a SIPOC diagram to describe an existing process “as is”

• Use a SIPOC diagram as a springboard to other critical activities in process improvement

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Use a Project Network Diagram to show the sequence of activities in a project

• Use the Activity-on-Arrow Method to draw a Project Network Diagram

• Identify the Critical Path in a project

• Estimate the duration of a project

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to draw a Project network Diagram using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Use Case

• Create Use Cases to model business systems

• Apply Use Cases to determine what a system can do for the users

• Use “actors” as outside entities that interact with a system

• Use simple language and templates to create a Use Case

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by PERT Analysis

• Use PERT Analysis to create a three-point estimate of activity duration

• Combine PERT Analysis with Project Network Diagrams to estimate activity and project duration

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Select the problem to be solved

• Record data on the problem

• Evaluate the data collected

• Determine the solution to the problem selected

• Implement the solution

• Maintain the solution in practice

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Radar Chart

• Use a Radar Chart as a visual tool to identify gaps in performance

• Follow a step-by-step procedure to draw a Radar Chart

• Interpret results from a Radar Chart

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to plot a radar Chart with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by Force Field Analysis

• Identify forces that reinforce positives

• Identify forces that eliminate negatives

• Use Force Field Analysis to make decisions involving change

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Run Chart

• Use Run Charts to measure and monitor performance

• Use Upper Control Limits (UCL) and Lower Control Limits (LCL) to determine if a process is in or out of control

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to draw a Run Chart with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Simple Moving Average

• Use a Simple Moving Average to make predictions

• Distinguish between Forecast and Actual demand

• Use a Simple Moving Average to visualise trends over time

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to calculate a Simple Moving Average with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a Weighted Moving Average

• Use a Weighted Moving Average to make predictions

• Distinguish between Forecast and Actual demand

• Use a Weighted Moving Average to visualise trends over time

In this short video you will be shown step-by-step how to calculate a Weighted Moving Average with Microsoft Excel using a simple example.