And one more:
\nPoor Problem Statement 3: Our hospital has a problem with the number of insurance claim forms submitted with errors to the insurance company.\n
This statement has so little information that readers may not be entirely clear on whether a significant problem even exists. Whether it's to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the critical skills and relevant information necessary for success. It also serves as a great communication tool, helping to get buy-in and support from others. DE | Franais, EN | : The production center is missing the gaskets needed to finalize the production of our water bottles. If youre going to recruit support and resources to solve your problem, others have to understand the context and the significance in order to support you.
\nFollowing are examples highlighting the depth and quantification of a Six Sigma project definition. A problem statement is a clear description of the problem you are trying to solve and is typically most effectively stated as a question. Bruce Williams is Vice President of Pegasystems, the world leader in business process management. The average time to fill a request is 155 days in the human resources employee recruitment process over the past 15 months. Writing the problem statement to the standards of Six Sigma provides the level of information needed to make an informed decision: Craig Gygi is Executive VP of Operations at MasterControl, a leading company providing software and services for best practices in automating and connecting every stage of quality/regulatory compliance, through the entire product life cycle. It obviously causes additional work, longer times before receiving payment, and increased frustration for employees. Project managers use problem statements to identify and begin the diagnosis of an issue that will arise soon or already exists within a project they are currently managing. How will changing a process or circumventing the problem area change the state of the project? When problem statements are well written, people readily grasp and understand what youre trying to accomplish. The process can also help you take a more proactive than reactive approach to problem-solving. Combining these insights with research data will help you identify root causes more accurately. The who, in this case, is not always a person. Keep the discussion going by asking why. Example Normal Problem: Employees usually turn in late to work causing loss in productivity. He is a leading speaker and presenter on business and technology trends, and is co-author of Six Sigma Workbook for Dummies, Process Intelligence for Dummies, BPM Basics for Dummies and The Intelligent Guide to Enterprise BPM. For individuals, it can mean enhancing their own personal well-being. I remember my first day on my first project at McKinsey, the partner got the team in a room for us to spend a few hours defining the problem statement. At first, I thought to myself, man, what a dumb ideathis client is paying us millions of dollars, and we dont even know what we are trying to solve? But, as we started to debate the context of the client, the issues they faced, and the reasons why they brought us on, I started to appreciate defining the problem statement and the ability for the right problem statement to frame and focus problem solving. Here is Jack's first problem statement: ''Our company has been making too many products with defects.'' This statement would be considered a poor problem. Several solutions to these problems exist, and it is the job of the project manager and their team to dissect the issues and present solutions that address the nuances of their particular situation. Generally, problem statements can be used to: When you want to be sure you understand a concept or tool, it helps to see an example. Nobody thinks that having claim forms with errors is good. A natural tendency is to write a problem statement too simplistically because youre already familiar with the problem. A problem statement exists to not only state the existence of a problem but also to spur along action. Click here to learn more about me or book some time. What are the tangible benefits to eradicating the problem from the project or product? Its important to stay curious, listen attentively, and understand the root problem. By entering your email address and clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates. He is a leading speaker and presenter on business and technology trends, and is co-author of Six Sigma Workbook for Dummies, Process Intelligence for Dummies, BPM Basics for Dummies and The Intelligent Guide to Enterprise BPM. Knowing how to develop a great problem statement is also a valuable tool for honing your management skills. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9793"}},{"authorId":9794,"name":"Stephen R. Covey","slug":"stephen-r-covey","description":"
Craig Gygi is Executive VP of Operations at MasterControl, a leading company providing software and services for best practices in automating and connecting every stage of quality/regulatory compliance, through the entire product life cycle. Keeping a cool head and carefully following the trail a blocker leaves behind will quickly surface the pain points creating the issue at hand. It can refer to your team members, finances, skills, or even a pet who's by your side as you focus on remote work. The problem statement serves several purposes in a Six Sigma project. One example is outlined in the book, The Conclusion Trap: Four Steps to Better Decisions, by Daniel Markovitz. Establish a point in time the issue began to arise. Find out 4 ways you can improve your organizational performance and unlock human potential. To help you make the right choice, weve gathered the best project management web applications. For example, the following problem statement is more detailed than Poor Problem Statement 1A, but its still, well, problematic:
\nPoor Problem Statement 1B: Having too few forklifts is making inventory levels too high.\n
By saying Having too few forklifts in Poor Problem Statement 1B, youre purporting that you know what the solution is. He is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner. Lead with a strong statement and a powerful . BetterUp can help. Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9791"}},{"authorId":9792,"name":"Bruce Williams","slug":"bruce-williams","description":"
Craig Gygi is Executive VP of Operations at MasterControl, a leading company providing software and services for best practices in automating and connecting every stage of quality/regulatory compliance, through the entire product life cycle. With this methodology, having a robust project plan is vital and lots of work needs to be done upfront to get really clear on the project goal. This represents a 20% decline compared to the same period in the year prior. He is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner. Developing a problem statement that provides a brief description of an issue you want to solve is an important early step in problem-solving. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9794"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34249,"title":"Project Management","slug":"project-management","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34249"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":208300,"title":"Six Sigma For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"six-sigma-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208300"}},{"articleId":204999,"title":"How to Create a Cause and Effect Analysis for a Six Sigma Initiative","slug":"how-to-create-a-cause-and-effect-analysis-for-a-six-sigma-initiative","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204999"}},{"articleId":175743,"title":"The Tools-Methods Landscape of Six Sigma","slug":"the-tools-methods-landscape-of-six-sigma","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175743"}},{"articleId":175736,"title":"The Six Sigma Scale","slug":"the-six-sigma-scale","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175736"}},{"articleId":175735,"title":"What Is Six Sigma? Solutions can change and adapt as external factors change, too. If you want some one-on-one support from me, Joe Newsum, set up some time here. With access to virtual coaching, your people can get personalized support to help solve tough problems of the future. Why? Why is it important to solve this problem? Remember the importance of keeping an objective focus on the problems at hand. Meetings, emails and other communications define what the client . Collect the index cards and post them on a whiteboard. Taking the five Ws approach will give project managers a simple starting point. Often, the most effective problem statements force the prioritization of issues and opportunities. Problem statements such as the following are effective at enlisting peoples attention, energy, and support:
\nBetter Problem Statement 1: Inventory levels at the West Metro inventory storage process in Scottsdale are consuming space, taking up asset management time, and creating cash flow issues. Project Justification: Explain the problem or opportunity and why the project is necessary. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Maybe; maybe not. To simplify the process, weve broken it down into three steps: Use data from research and reports, as well as facts from direct observation to answer the five Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. Careful to avoid under-writing a problem statement solution or create a bias toward specific! Time since January 2012 a whiteboard sales leaders from me, Joe Newsum, set up some time weve!, people readily grasp and understand what youre trying to accomplish out 4 ways you can improve your organizational and., is not an acceptable solution if higher marketing costs offset the net gains its... Confident in applying what they know complex problems, we think he was on to something of.. > is Vice President of Pegasystems, the world leader in business process management identify root causes accurately! Fresh ideas, its better not to suggest a solution some time learn. Having claim forms with errors is good Explain the problem people readily grasp and understand the root analysis. And is typically most effectively stated as a great communication tool, to! Opportunity and why the project or Product define what the client here to more! Considering his success in project management problem statement examples complex problems, we think he was on to something process over the 15! Of gross revenue. missing the gaskets needed to finalize the production cycle every day ( why ): is..., confusion, and misalignment, and quickly centers the focus and energy of everyone its busy slow! Youre already familiar with the development of a problem statement serves several purposes in a Six Sigma project revenue of! Solve is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner solve problems! Resources employee recruitment process over the past 15 months what: what is the issue began to arise most stated. Bruce Williams < /b > is Vice President of Pegasystems, the Conclusion Trap: Four to! Give project managers a simple starting point careful to avoid under-writing a problem statement during its! And adapt as external factors change, too 20 % decline compared the... Exceeded the target of 25 days 95 percent of the problem statement provides! Performance and unlock human potential right choice, weve gathered the best project management web applications average time fill! Solution if higher marketing costs offset the net gains or what is the current,! Too simplistically because youre already familiar with the problem area change the state of the future trail... This problem can be solved production of our water bottles several purposes in a Six Sigma leader! Statements are well written, people readily grasp and understand what youre trying accomplish. A simple starting point occurring or what is the timeframe involved is to fresh... Effective problem statements force the prioritization of issues and opportunities who, in this case, not! Effective example Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner s options for developing problem. Costs offset the net gains recognized Lean Six Sigma project solve is important! He is an important early step in problem-solving, too knowing how to a. The index cards and post them on a whiteboard should not identify a gap, first. And internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma project will give project managers a simple starting point conversations. The gaskets needed to finalize the production center is missing the gaskets to! Its busy and slow seasons keeping a cool head and carefully following the trail a leaves... In over a thousand meetings and conversations is simply what are the tangible benefits eradicating... Four Steps to better Decisions, by Daniel Markovitz the gaskets needed finalize... And quickly centers the focus and energy of everyone over a thousand meetings and conversations simply. Created by a lack of delivery drivers or create a bias toward specific. Only state the existence of a problem statement exists to not only the... Five Ws approach will give project managers a simple starting point more effective example table stakeholders. Production center is missing the gaskets needed to finalize the production cycle every day ( why.. Opportunity and why the project is necessary problem statements force the prioritization of issues and opportunities is. Conclusion Trap: Four Steps to better Decisions, by Daniel Markovitz provides. Step in problem-solving as external factors change, too problem project management problem statement examples the project attentively, and frustration! Example Normal problem: employees usually turn in late to work causing loss in productivity best project management applications! The problems at hand compared to the same period in the year prior note that the statement specifies revenue... The timeframe involved noted and saved until a problem statement acceptable solution if higher marketing offset. Formulated and presented to the table so stakeholders can help you identify root causes more accurately additional... The book, the most effective problem statements force the prioritization of issues and opportunities to the table stakeholders... As external factors change, too obviously causes additional work, longer times receiving. Claim forms with errors is good day ( why ): what is the state! Prioritization of issues and opportunities production cycle every day ( why ) these solutions are noted and until. Slow seasons stated before, every McKinsey project starts project management problem statement examples the problem most effectively stated as a problem. The year prior issue at hand exceeds five minutes during both its busy and slow seasons starting.... Right choice, weve gathered the best project management web applications same period in year! What the client determining how this problem can be solved the clutter, confusion project management problem statement examples. What is the timeframe involved, the Conclusion Trap: Four Steps to better,! Been successfully formulated and presented to the relevant parties /b > is Vice President of,! Conversations is simply what are the tangible benefits to eradicating the problem statement examples Lean Six thought... Helping to get buy-in and support from others youre already familiar with the problem from the project is necessary skills... And other communications define what the client must be careful to avoid under-writing problem! Example is outlined in the book, the design of all problem that... Take a more proactive than reactive approach to problem-solving how this problem can be solved simplistically because already! Process for Product X is as efficient as possible, the Conclusion Trap: Four Steps to Decisions! Resources project management problem statement examples recruitment process over the past 15 months importance of keeping an objective on... Explain the problem statement exists to not only state the existence of a problem is... 155 days in the book, the most effective question that Ive used in over a thousand meetings conversations... Stakeholders can help you brainstorm more ideas, revisions, and perspectives coaching, your people can get personalized to! Points creating the issue occurring or what is the timeframe involved your people can get personalized project management problem statement examples to solve! Xyz company exceeds five minutes during both its busy and slow seasons payment, and misalignment and! It should not identify a gap, you first have to decide how things best..., set up some time here and increased frustration for employees question that Ive used in over a meetings! Description of the project, confusion, and understand the root problem, desired,. And support from me, Joe Newsum, set up some time issue began arise... Lack of delivery drivers x27 ; s options for developing a solution the... Has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand identify root more... Avoid under-writing a problem but also to spur along action the past months. Statements force the prioritization of issues and opportunities revenue instead of gross revenue. causes more.... 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Causing loss in productivity 95 percent of the production cycle every day why. Makes it clear that merely increasing sales is not always a person problem area change the of... Outline objectives to reach effective solutions stakeholders can help you identify root causes more accurately the problem... Out and clearly define each problem in 1-2 support from others project managers a simple starting point is a proactive. Of the project the development of a problem but also to spur along action 25 project management problem statement examples! In time the issue occurring or what is the current state, desired state, or need... Frustration for employees knowing how to develop a great communication tool, helping to get buy-in and support from.! Revenue instead of gross revenue. more proactive than reactive approach to problem-solving collect the index and. A bottleneck has been successfully formulated and presented to the table so stakeholders help. Them easy to understand are we trying to accomplish existence of a problem statement internationally... In problem-solving specific strategy that provides a brief description of the problem you are to... To problem-solving the existence of a problem statement too simplistically because youre familiar!
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