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
IS
IS NOT
WHAT
What specific object(s) has the deviation?
What similar object(s) could have the deviation, but does not?
What is the specified deviation?
What other deviations could be observed, but are not?
WHERE
Where is the object when the deviation is observed? (geographically)
Where else could the object be when the deviation is observed, but is not?
Where is the deviation on the object?
Where else could the deviation be located on the object, but is not?
WHEN
When was the deviation observed first?
(in clock and calendar time)
When else could the deviation have been observed first, but was not?
When since that time has the deviation been observed?
What pattern?*
When since that time could the deviation have been observed, but was not?
What could be the pattern?*
When, in the object’s history or life
cycle, was the deviation observed
first?
When else, in the object’s history or life
cycle, could the deviation have been
observed first, but was not?
EXTENT
How many objects have the
deviation?
How many objects could have the
deviation, but do not?
What is the trend* in the number of
objects with the deviation?
What could be the trend* in the number
of objects, but is not?
What is the size of a single deviation?
What could be the size, but is not?
What is the trend* in the size?
What could be the trend,* but is not?
How many instances of the deviation
are on each object?
How many instances could be on each
object, but are not?
What is the trend* in the number of
instances?
What could be the trend* in the number
of instances, but is not?
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?