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A3 Problem Solving Template

This document provides a template for problem solving with assessment questions. It includes sections for background, current condition, goal, root cause analysis, countermeasures, confirmation of results, and follow up. An example problem is provided about declining revenue at a gaming company. The root cause was identified as inefficient processes. Countermeasures proposed cross-functional teams and reducing the number of games in development to one per team. Confirmation showed results including faster delivery and reduced defects. Follow up involves continuing process improvements and cross training.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
209 views4 pages

A3 Problem Solving Template

This document provides a template for problem solving with assessment questions. It includes sections for background, current condition, goal, root cause analysis, countermeasures, confirmation of results, and follow up. An example problem is provided about declining revenue at a gaming company. The root cause was identified as inefficient processes. Countermeasures proposed cross-functional teams and reducing the number of games in development to one per team. Confirmation showed results including faster delivery and reduced defects. Follow up involves continuing process improvements and cross training.
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A3 Problem Solving Template, Example, and Assessment Questions - version 1.1 - By Tom Poppendie ! and "enri! #niberg.

Ba !ground$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Plan
%&y is t&is important' %&y s&ould t&e reader are about t&is situation and be motivated to parti ipate in improving'

ause,e--e t net)or!0 to s&o) ause-and-e--e t relations&ips.

Assessment Questions
1. Is the analysis comprehensive at a broa% level? 2. Is the analysis %etaile% enough an% %i% it probe %eeply enough on the right issues? 3. Is there evi%ence of proper five, hys thin!ing about the true cause? '. &as cause an% effect been %emonstrate% or lin!e% in some manner? ). Are all the relevant factors consi%ere% "human# machine# material# metho%# environment# measurement# an% so on? *. -o all those ho ill nee% to collaborate in implementing the countermeasures agree on the cause.effect mo%el reasoning?

Assessment Questions
1. Is there a clear theme for the problem report that reflects the contents? 2. Is the topic relevant to the organization's objectives 3. Is there any other reason for purposes$? or!ing on this topic "e.g.# learning

(urrent (ondition$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Plan
"o) do t&ings )or! today' %&at is t&e problem' Baseline *etri s'

Assessment Questions
1. Is the current con%ition clear an% logically %epicte% in a visual manner? 2. &o coul% the current con%ition be ma%e clearer for the au%ience? 3. Is the current con%ition %epiction framing a problem or situation to be resolve%? '. (hat is the actual problem in the current con%ition? ). Are the facts of the situation clear# or are there just observations an% opinions? *. Is the problem +uantifie% in some manner or is it too +ualitative?

+oal , Target (ondition $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Plan


%&at out omes are expe ted -or )&at reasons' %&at &anges in metri s an be plausibly expe ted'

Assessment Questions
1. Is there a clear goal or target? 2. (hat# specifically# is to be accomplishe%? 3. &o ill this goal be measure% or evaluate%? '. (hat ill improve# by ho much# an% hen?

.oot (ause Analysis$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Plan


%&at is t&e root ause/s0 o- t&e problem' 1se a simple problem analysis tool /e.g., 2 )&y3s, -is&bone diagram,

A3 Problem Solving Template, Example, and Assessment Questions - version 1.1 - By Tom Poppendie ! and "enri! #niberg.

4)ner5 6ate5

Aut&or leading t&e problem solving ess

result? '. &o ill this be stan%ar%ize% an% communicate%?

*entor5 Person guiding and assessing pro


(urrent version 6ate

(ountermeasures /Experiments0 ________________________Do


Proposed ountermeasure/s0 to address ea & andidate root ause. 7T&is s&ould be a series o- 8ui ! experiments to validate ausal model analysis.9 Predi ted results -or ea & ountermeasure.

Assessment Questions
1. 2. 3. '. ). *. /. Are there clear countermeasures steps i%entifie%? -o the countermeasures lin! to the root cause of the problem? Are the countermeasures focuse% on the right areas? (ho is responsible for %oing hat# by hen "is )(hy,1&o clear$ (ill these action items prevent recurrence of the problem? Is the implementation or%er clear an% reasonable? &o ill the effects of the countermeasures be verifie%?

(on-irmation /.esults 0$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$(&e !


A tual result o- ea & ountermeasure /experiment0. "o) does t&e system a tually be&ave )it& t&e ountermeasures t&at are being proposed -or implementation in pla e'

Assessment Questions
1. &o ill you measure the effectiveness of the countermeasures? 2. -oes the chec! item align ith the previous goal statement? 3. &as actual performance move% line ith the goal statement? '. If performance has not improve%# then

hy? (hat

as misse%?

:ollo)-up /A tions0$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$A t
%&at &ave )e learned t&at does or does not improve t&e situation' ;n t&e lig&t o- t&e learning, )&at s&ould be done' "o) s&ould t&e )ay )e )or! or our standards be ad<usted to re-le t )&at )e learned' %&at do )e need to learn next'

Assessment Questions
1. (hat is necessary to prevent recurrence of the problem? 2. (hat remains to be accomplishe%? 3. (hat other parts of the organization nee% to be informe% of this

A3 Problem Solving Template, Example, and Assessment Questions - version 1.1 - By Tom Poppendie ! and "enri! #niberg.

Ba !ground
0ames out of %ate 1isse% mar!et in%o s 2 3evenue is %eclining -emotivate% teams 2 4ey %evelopers about to +uit 5verhea% costs 2 6ime to %evelop games stea%ily increasing %ue to %eclining technical +uality 7ressure to (or! 8A96:3;

(urrent (ondition

7rocess cycle efficiency < 3 months a%% value . 2) months cycle time < 1=>

+oal , Target (ondition


=> faster cycle time )> fe er escape% %efects 2?@ improvement in revenue

.oot (ause Analysis

A3 Problem Solving Template, Example, and Assessment Questions - version 1.1 - By Tom Poppendie ! and "enri! #niberg.

4)ner5 ?isa *entor5 "einri & 6ate5


1@ *ay =AAB
'.

e>perience of everyone in the company. Bontinue improvement of reuse% game components.engines to improve %evelopment throughput an% re%uce %efects.

(ountermeasures
1. (ross :un tional Teams C +rap&i s design t&roug& deployment

7re%ict 2> 8aster -elivery :n% %epen%encies 2 no spen% /)@ of time aiting.negotiating =. Abandon all but most promising 3 games in ea & 8ueue. 6o 4DE game per ross -un tional team at a time. '> faster %elivery from re%uce% tas! s itching :liminating +ueues ill cut 1.3 years from sche%ule 3. Engage developers in playing games and sele ting ideas 3?@ more profit to par ith best competitor Improve% filtering on hich games to %evelop 1ore fun games# more popular

(on-irmation /.esults 0
1. (ross :un tional Teams

&alf as much time aiting =. 4ne game at a time Queues eliminate%# time to complete game is ' months "*>$ 6echnical -ebt %ecreasing 2 :scape% %efects %o n by 2> so far 3. Engage developers in playing games and sele ting ideas 5ne team ta!ing time to play is pro%ucing more innovative games. Impact on profit is 6A-.

:ollo)-up
1.

Bonsi%er more cross training of team members to re%uce aiting for e>pertise 3e%uce %ifficulty of integration an% %eployment steps Improve processes for generating an% selecting game i%eas a. 3ecruit talent if i%entifiable.available b. Improve s!ills.process of best people alrea%y in company c. Aroa%en both participation in selection an% game playing

2. 3.

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