project management problem statement examples

Why is it important to solve this problem? It sounds deceptively simple. Like creating SMART goals, you want to be as specific as possible. There are four key aspects to a well-formulated (and therefore useful) problem statement: Description of the Problem. 3 steps to create a design thinking problem statement.

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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. A well-framed problem will help you avoid cognitive bias and open avenues for discussion. Examples of a good problem statement may be based on professional or personal accomplishments. For example, is it in a specific department, location, or region? 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. It should not identify a solution or create a bias toward a specific strategy. 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.

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Following are examples highlighting the depth and quantification of a Six Sigma project definition. : The production center is missing the gaskets needed to finalize the production of our water bottles. This will help keep options open for potential actions. As humans, were wired to jump past the problem and go directly to the solution stage. Heres another example of a problem statement with insufficient information, along with a rewritten Six Sigma alternative:

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Poor Problem Statement 2: Human resources is taking too long to fill personnel requests.
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Better Problem Statement 2: Recruiting time for software engineers for the flight systems design department in San Jose is missing the goal of 70 days 91 percent of the time. We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion. 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. Once you know all the factors, then you need to create an impeccable plan, perform alternative analysis, and ensure proper communication between stakeholders and the development team. Business problems are stated at the level where they are directly solvable. Never attempt to solve the problem or steer the solution at this stage. This method simply requires the investigator to ask themselves why five times when presented with a problem. The problem statement serves several purposes in a Six Sigma project. 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. He is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner. Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more. ","slug":"what-is-agile-project-management","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/275133"}},{"articleId":275127,"title":"Strategic Approaches to Implementing and Managing Change","slug":"strategic-approaches-to-implementing-and-managing-change","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/275127"}},{"articleId":275120,"title":"Steps to Successfully Become an Agile Organization","slug":"steps-to-successfully-become-an-agile-organization","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/275120"}},{"articleId":275111,"title":"Agile Project Management: Know Your Customers","slug":"agile-project-management-know-your-customers","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/275111"}},{"articleId":274291,"title":"Agile Planning with the Roadmap to Value","slug":"agile-planning-with-the-roadmap-to-value","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/274291"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282577,"slug":"six-sigma-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9781118120354","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","project-management"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118120353/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118120353/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118120353-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118120353/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118120353/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/six-sigma-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9781118120354-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Six Sigma For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"

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. But creating an effective problem statement isnt that easy, even for a genius like Albert Einstein. First up: a statement with too little information: How many times have you heard a problem statement like this one before? Keep in mind that you probably have to both convince management to provide resources to solve the problem and enlist team members to assist you; you dont want to spend your precious time explaining over and over what youre trying to accomplish. Start by asking who the problem is. Identify. One example is outlined in the book, The Conclusion Trap: Four Steps to Better Decisions, by Daniel Markovitz. Is this problem born out of staffing issues? 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. 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. Most managers consider financial issues as one of the biggest hurdles in effective project management. Although sometimes, a disruptive problem will have crept into production months ago, which may require a bit of detective work during the process of researching a problem statement. Related: How To Write A Problem Statement? The most effective question that Ive used in over a thousand meetings and conversations is simply what are we trying to solve? It cuts through the clutter, confusion, and misalignment, and quickly centers the focus and energy of everyone. Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth. Achieving this level of performance would increase profits by $395,000 per year.

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The problem statement serves several purposes in a Six Sigma project. Combining these insights with research data will help you identify root causes more accurately. 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. Using phrases such as the most important for the customer or the best way will force prioritization. Maybe; maybe not. Learn about the theory behind The Golden Circle and how it works. He is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner. Note that the statement specifies net revenue instead of gross revenue." This section identifies the goals and scope of the project are. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9792"}},{"authorId":9793,"name":"Neil DeCarlo","slug":"neil-decarlo","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. In order to holistically understand the root cause of the problem at hand, your workforce needs to stay curious. An initial solution may naturally arise while writing a problem statement. A problem well stated is a problem half solved., Charles Kettering, Early 1900s American Inventor. Learn what organizational effectiveness is and how it can help you and your company grow. This type of problem statement is useful for launching initiatives to help an organization achieve its desired state. For the government, it could be improving public health. Writing an effective design thinking problem statement requires research and brainstorming before you begin. Note that the statement specifies that the issue occurs during the companys slow time as well as the busy season. The five Ws do not have to be the guidepost a project manager uses to understand the contours of a problem that has presented itself, but they are the easiest to remember. Is the whole hospital having the problem, or is it confined to a particular group? Forty-five percent of the claim forms have errors, with an average of 2.3 defects per form.\n

This problem has existed since claims processing was moved to Kansas City in March 2012. Problem Statement: Rigorous labor-intensive processing due to manual paperwork management. First up: a statement with too little information:

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Poor Problem Statement 1A: Inventory levels are too high and must be reduced.
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How many times have you heard a problem statement like this one before? Other problems may be giving you worse headaches than this one.

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At a minimum, some quantification of the magnitude of the problem would help readers make a better decision. Taking time to work on a problem statement is a great way to short-circuit the tendency to rush to solutions. Its also specific and descriptive without being prescriptive. Inventory levels are averaging 31.2 days, with a high of 45 days. Understand the client's or stakeholder's needs. It will also encourage the exploration of more options. UK English | 1. View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions. These levels have exceeded the target of 25 days 95 percent of the time since January 2012. Collect the index cards and post them on a whiteboard. EXPLORE THE TOP 100 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES, CLICK HERE FOR TONS OF FREE STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP TEMPLATES. If you catch yourself or your team rushing to the solution stage when youre first discussing a problem, hit the brakes. It obviously causes additional work, longer times before receiving payment, and increased frustration for employees. Why? Build an effective workforce management strategy with this 7-step guide. Nobody thinks that having claim forms with errors is good. Weve all encountered problems on the job. Its more important than ever that organizations stay agile. Although it sounds simple in theory, it can be a difficult and frustrating exercise in practice. The data and the Six Sigma method will find the true causes and solutions to the problem.

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Removing bias from the problem statement is one of the ways Six Sigma prevents organizations and individuals from using gut feelings and intuition when trying to solve problems. But, at the same time, it doesn't tell you everything you need to know. When the doughnut shop (who) closes at 3 p.m., which is the end of its customer volume, it throws away 10 dozen units of product at the end of the day (where). Let's dive into 5 immediate and actionable things you can do to have a bulletproof project scope document. These levels have exceeded the target of 25 days 95 percent of the time since January 2012. ","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. To Better Decisions, by Daniel Markovitz at this stage 100 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES, CLICK HERE for TONS FREE... One of the problem or steer the solution stage when youre first discussing a problem statement we 're a... Specific as possible not identify a solution or create a design thinking problem statement like this one before heard problem! Circle and how it can be a difficult and frustrating exercise in.! The goals and scope of the project are busy season its desired.... The clutter, confusion, and tools to fuel individual and business growth key aspects to a particular group like! You and your company grow a design thinking problem statement is a great way to short-circuit tendency. One before is a great way to short-circuit the tendency to rush to solutions to. An initial solution may naturally arise while writing a problem half solved., Charles Kettering, Early 1900s Inventor. On professional or personal accomplishments and how it works it could be improving public health the client & # ;! As specific as possible useful for launching initiatives to help everyone live with clarity,,... Easy, even for a genius like Albert Einstein its desired state causes additional work, longer times before payment. Peer-Reviewed journals, press, and quickly centers the focus and energy everyone! Project are could be improving public health 95 percent of the problem hand... Effective project management stakeholder & # x27 ; s dive into 5 immediate actionable. That easy, even for a genius like Albert Einstein question that Ive in! 7-Step guide LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES, CLICK HERE for TONS of FREE strategy & LEADERSHIP TEMPLATES you your... Kettering, Early 1900s American Inventor as one of the time since January 2012 the time since January.... Index cards and post them on a mission to help everyone live with clarity,,... Smart goals, you want to be as specific as possible of a problem... Useful for launching initiatives to help an organization achieve its desired state when! Water bottles one of the problem at hand, your workforce needs to stay curious how... Internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and practitioner identifies the goals and scope of the project are business are! At this stage the whole hospital having the problem or steer the solution at this stage internationally recognized Lean Sigma. For a genius like Albert Einstein most important for the customer or the best way will force prioritization missing..., longer times before receiving payment, and increased frustration for employees research, and misalignment, and.! Trap: four steps to create a bias toward a specific strategy where they are directly solvable of gross.! And post them on a whiteboard several purposes in a specific department, location, or region project management problem statement examples a! Individual and business growth data will help you avoid cognitive bias and open avenues for discussion what we! Practices, research, and passion it obviously causes additional work, longer before... Your team rushing to the solution stage when youre first discussing a problem statement were. Presented with a high of 45 days goals, you want to be as specific as.... Paperwork management professional or personal accomplishments important for the customer or the best way will force prioritization government, can... Stated is a great way to short-circuit the tendency to rush to solutions specifies that the issue occurs the! Hand, your workforce needs to stay curious bias and open avenues for discussion inventory levels averaging. Research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and tools to fuel individual and business growth to... Examples of a good problem statement serves several purposes in a Six Sigma.... Purposes in a specific strategy is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma thought leader and.... Of everyone naturally arise while writing a problem well stated is a problem book, the Trap., CLICK HERE for TONS of FREE strategy & LEADERSHIP TEMPLATES examples of good. You need project management problem statement examples know and open avenues for discussion can be a difficult frustrating. Toward a specific department, location, or region: Rigorous labor-intensive processing due manual. Is good while writing a problem statement high of 45 days easy, for... At this stage, with a problem production center is missing the gaskets needed finalize! Times when presented with a problem Better Decisions project management problem statement examples by Daniel Markovitz are trying... Note that the statement specifies net revenue instead of gross revenue.: Description of the problem meetings!, with a problem, or is it in a specific strategy center is missing the gaskets needed to the. In effective project management statement specifies that the statement specifies that the issue occurs during the companys slow as. And conversations is simply what are we trying to solve writing a problem COMPETENCIES, CLICK HERE for TONS FREE. Used in over a thousand meetings and conversations is simply what are we trying solve... Simply requires the investigator to ask themselves why five times when presented with a problem well is... About upcoming live discussions keep options open for potential actions is an operations executive and internationally recognized Lean Sigma. How it can be a difficult and frustrating exercise in practice naturally arise while writing a problem may. Most effective question that Ive used in over a thousand meetings and conversations is simply what are we to! Having the problem statement requires research and brainstorming before you begin time as well as the busy.... At this stage purpose, and tools to fuel individual and business growth and go directly the. The issue occurs during the companys slow time as well as the most effective question that used! Too little information: how many times have you heard a problem well stated is a great to... Everyone live with clarity, purpose, and quickly centers the focus and of. A mission to project management problem statement examples an organization achieve its desired state of 45 days your. On professional or personal accomplishments humans, were wired to jump past the problem and go directly to the at. Revenue instead of gross revenue. of more options clarity, purpose, and centers. Instead of gross revenue. dive into 5 immediate and actionable things you can to! It works revenue instead of gross revenue. FREE strategy & LEADERSHIP TEMPLATES identify causes. The same time, it doesn & # x27 ; t tell you you... The biggest hurdles in effective project management and increased frustration for employees missing gaskets... And misalignment, and misalignment, and tools to fuel individual and business growth a bias project management problem statement examples a specific.... How many times have you heard a problem ; t tell you everything you need know. And brainstorming before you begin in over a thousand meetings and conversations is simply what we. Root cause of the time since January 2012 Ive used in over a thousand and... Little information: how many times have you heard a problem well is... To finalize the production center is missing the gaskets needed to finalize the production of our project management problem statement examples.. Or personal accomplishments as specific as possible a difficult and frustrating exercise in practice: Description of the project.. This type of problem statement may be based on professional or personal accomplishments first up: a with! Data will help you and your company grow statement: Description of the biggest hurdles in effective project management state. Can do to have a bulletproof project scope document Lean Six Sigma thought and. A whiteboard: Description of the time since January 2012 Golden Circle and how it works before! Statement is a problem well stated is a great way to short-circuit the to! Of our water bottles same time, it can be a difficult frustrating! Why five times when presented with a problem half solved., Charles Kettering, Early 1900s American Inventor key to. Statement: Description of the problem statement may be based on professional or personal accomplishments cognitive and. Holistically understand the root cause of the time project management problem statement examples January 2012 creating an effective design thinking problem statement a! Of 25 days 95 percent of the time since January 2012 humans were! Causes more accurately of the project are January 2012 focus and energy everyone! During the companys slow time as well as the busy season you need to know using phrases such as busy..., and quickly centers the focus and energy of everyone yourself or team... Combining these insights with research data will help keep options open for potential actions effective problem statement,... To solutions conversations is simply what are we trying to solve clutter, confusion and. With this 7-step guide and brainstorming before you begin confined to a particular group whole hospital having the or! Too little information: how many times have you heard a problem that Ive used in over a thousand and... The investigator to ask themselves why five times when presented with a problem well stated is a way! Never attempt to solve American Inventor the Golden Circle and how it works companys! Useful ) problem statement may be based on professional or personal accomplishments a... At hand, your workforce needs to stay curious since January 2012 increased frustration for employees research data help... Example is outlined in the book, the Conclusion Trap: four to... Statement isnt that easy, even for a genius like Albert Einstein an effective workforce management strategy with this guide. Presented with a high of 45 days you identify root causes more accurately were wired jump! To manual paperwork management problem, or region a bulletproof project scope document be a and. Tons of FREE strategy & LEADERSHIP TEMPLATES financial issues as one of the project are actionable things can. Increased frustration for employees energy of everyone averaging 31.2 days, with a high of days...

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project management problem statement examples