# Problem Analysis

#### Describe the Problem

State the Problem

- What object (or group of objects) has the deviation?
- What deviation does it have?
- What tells us a deviation exists? (senses, measures)

Specify the Problem

- Describe as completely, factually as possible

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-is-is-not-what-what-" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 103.333%; height: 335.4px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 9.0584%;"></col><col style="width: 41.5971%;"></col><col style="width: 49.3445%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.8px;"><td style="height: 29.8px;">  
</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.8px;">IS</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.8px;">IS NOT</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.6px;"><td style="height: 46.6px;">WHAT</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">What specific object(s) has the deviation?</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">What similar object(s) could have the deviation, but does not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.6px;"><td style="height: 46.6px;">  
</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">What is the specified deviation?</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">What other deviations could be observed, but are not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.6px;"><td style="height: 46.6px;">WHERE</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">Where is the object when the deviation is observed? (geographically)</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">Where else could the object be when the deviation is observed, but is not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 46.6px;"><td style="height: 46.6px;">  
</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">Where is the deviation on the object?</td><td style="height: 46.6px;">Where else could the deviation be located on the object, but is not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.8px;"><td style="height: 29.8px;">WHEN</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When was the deviation observed first?

(in clock and calendar time)

</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When else could the deviation have been observed first, but was not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.8px;"><td style="height: 29.8px;">  
</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When since that time has the deviation been observed?

What pattern?\*

</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When since that time could the deviation have been observed, but was not?

What could be the pattern?\*

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.8px;"><td style="height: 29.8px;">  
</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When, in the object’s history or life  
cycle, was the deviation observed  
first?</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">When else, in the object’s history or life  
cycle, could the deviation have been  
observed first, but was not?</td></tr><tr style="height: 29.8px;"><td style="height: 29.8px;">EXTENT</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">How many objects have the  
deviation?</td><td style="height: 29.8px;">How many objects could have the  
deviation, but do not?</td></tr><tr><td>  
</td><td>What is the trend\* in the number of  
objects with the deviation?</td><td>What could be the trend\* in the number  
of objects, but is not?</td></tr><tr><td>  
</td><td>What is the size of a single deviation?</td><td>What could be the size, but is not?</td></tr><tr><td>  
</td><td>What is the trend\* in the size?</td><td>What could be the trend,\* but is not?</td></tr><tr><td>  
</td><td>How many instances of the deviation  
are on each object?</td><td>How many instances could be on each  
object, but are not?</td></tr><tr><td>  
</td><td>What is the trend\* in the number of  
instances?</td><td>What could be the trend\* in the number  
of instances, but is not?</td></tr></tbody></table>

- Pattern\* = continuous, periodic, sporadic, single occurrence
- Trend\* = increasing, decreasing, stable

#### Identify Possible Causes

1\. Use knowledge or experience, or...

- Explain how the cause creates the deviation
- What object + deviation format
- What could have caused this deviation?

2\. Use distinctions and changes

- Record data, new and true, only of the IS
- What is different, odd, special, or unique about each IS compared to IS NOT?
- What changed in, on, around, or about, each distinction? When?
- How could the distinctions and changes cause the deviation?

#### Evaluate Possible Causes

Test possible causes against the IS / IS NOT

- Eliminate causes that cannot be explained
- If (possible cause) is the cause of (problem), then how does it explain both IS and IS NOT?
- What assumptions must be made?

Determine most probable cause

- Pick the one with the fewest assumptions
- Which possible cause best explains the IS and IS NOT?

#### Confirm True Cause

Verify assumptions, observe, experiment, or try a fix and monitor

- Pick the safest, easiest, quickest, cheapest, surest way to prove true cause
- What can be done to confirm true cause?