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TTA - CSBG - PITAS Problem Tree Analysis

The document provides instructions for conducting a problem tree analysis activity to help teams identify root causes and effects of problems. It outlines goals of the activity, materials needed, and step-by-step directions for teams to analyze challenges by writing the problem, brainstorming root causes and effects, grouping them into themes, and prioritizing root causes to address.

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Hermo berutu
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9 views

TTA - CSBG - PITAS Problem Tree Analysis

The document provides instructions for conducting a problem tree analysis activity to help teams identify root causes and effects of problems. It outlines goals of the activity, materials needed, and step-by-step directions for teams to analyze challenges by writing the problem, brainstorming root causes and effects, grouping them into themes, and prioritizing root causes to address.

Uploaded by

Hermo berutu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem Tree Analysis Activity Instructions

About This Resource This facilitation guide describes how to conduct a problem tree analysis
with your team to identify root causes of a problem. This type of analysis can help your team
build a shared understanding of the causes of your challenge, as well as the consequences
of failing to address the challenge. You can pair this activity with the Creative Matrix, which
supports brainstorming of targeted strategies to address root causes.

Goals of a Problem Tree Analysis


/ Identify root causes of a problem and build a shared understanding of the effects
/ Begin to prioritize root causes, based on their importance and the feasibility of addressing them

Materials for Virtual* Problem Tree Analysis


/ Problem Tree Analysis Template (see page 3)

Directions to Complete Your Problem Tree Analysis


1. Using the Share button in the upper right corner, share the Problem Tree Analysis Google Slides
template (linked above) with your team, so all team members can edit simultaneously. If you
prefer, you may create an account for a virtual whiteboard program, such as Mural or Miro, which
both have templates for the problem tree analysis.
2. State your problem. Write your problem in the large gray text box on the trunk of the tree. This
should be the problem that you are trying to address through rapid-cycle learning. For example,
“Too many clients drop out before completing the program.”
3. Brainstorm root causes (three minutes). You will type these into the blue sticky notes at the roots
of the tree. Ask team members to generate as many root causes as they can think of (one per
sticky note). Root causes are the underlying drivers of a complex challenge. For example, if your
team identifies program retention as a challenge, you might identify root causes such as “Clients
have trouble participating because of a lack of child care,” “Incentives are not motivating enough,”
or “Clients don’t feel connected to program staff or their peers in the program.”
* You can adapt this activity for an in-person meeting by using a paper for the problem statement and two different colors of sticky notes for the
root causes (roots) and effects (leaves). Have team members post their sticky notes on a large table, wall, or whiteboard in a similar arrangement
to the Problem Tree Analysis Google Slides template.
4. Brainstorm effects (three minutes). Type these into the green sticky notes in the leaves of the tree.
Ask team members to generate as many effects as they can think of (one per sticky note). Effects
are the results of the challenge. For the program retention challenge, effects might be “Clients
don’t receive the full range of helpful services,” “The program isn’t meeting funder requirements,”
or “Group dynamics in the cohort-based program are negatively impacted when clients drop out.”
5. Group root causes into common themes. In a group brainstorm session, you might find that
some sticky notes overlap or touch on similar themes. Cluster similar causes by dragging blue
sticky notes together. For example, you might have a category called “barriers” that includes the
participation barriers your team identified as contributing to the retention problem (for example,
child care and transportation).
6. Discuss which root causes you think are the most important or influential, as well as which are
most feasible for the team to address. Begin to prioritize root causes by considering their influence
and your team’s ability to address the cause. To denote prioritized causes, consider bolding the
text on the sticky note. The goal is for your team to select one root cause (or a couple of related
root causes) as a priority, and then develop targeted strategies to address it (consider using the
Creative Matrix activity for strategy generation).
7. Group effects into common themes. To support a common understanding of the consequences of
the challenge, it’s helpful to group similar or related sticky notes. This will help your team identify
the themes with the most sticky notes or those that seem to resonate the most with staff. For
example, you might create a category called “not meeting outcomes” to represent all sticky notes
that relate to clients not receiving necessary services to make progress on key outcomes. To group
sticky notes, drag the green sticky notes into clusters with common themes that you identify.

Helpful Hints
/ A strong problem is specific and measurable. For example, “70 percent of clients drop out before
the end of our job training program” is stronger than “Our challenge is program retention.”
/ After completing this problem tree analysis, you could use the Creative Matrix to brainstorm
strategies to improve.

This resource was prepared by Gina Lucchesi, Grace Guerrero Ramirez, and Annie Buonaspina of Mathematica, Washington, DC, (2022) under
contract with Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Problem Tree Analysis
The problem tree analysis will help your team understand the scope of your
problem and its causes. This is key to identifying potential strategies, and in the
process, your team will build shared understanding of the issues.
Please see the companion facilitation guide for detailed instructions.
Abbreviated instructions
To complete the activity:
1. Write your high-level challenge or problem statement in the large gray box
(for example, “Too many clients drop out before completing the program”).
2. Use the blue sticky notes to brainstorm root causes of the challenges (for
example, “Incentives aren’t motivating enough,” or “Clients have trouble
participating because of a lack of child care”).
3. Next, brainstorm the effects of the challenge using the green sticky notes
(for example, “Clients aren’t receiving the full range of helpful services,” or
“The program isn’t meeting funder requirements”).
4. Prioritize the top root causes. Consider the root causes your team believes
will have the greatest impact if you address them and consider your team’s
ability to address them.
After completing this problem tree analysis, it might be helpful for your team to
use information generated from the activity as a starting place for the Creative
Matrix, a tool for brainstorming solutions.

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