Module 2 QMB 3602 (no chapter read for this module)

(thinking the problem through) Which question is least focusing? Where do you see this sort of effort leading in the next decade? Which departments need to be excluded from the project? Who directly benefits the most from the project? Who is responsible for approving the project budget?

Where do you see this sort of effort leading in the next decade? This sort of thinking does not focus effort, but rather expands it in an exploratory way.

(What is critical thinking) You start on a new project that seems very similar to previous work you've done. You immediately dive in and proceed as you have done before. Why is your bold start probably a mistake?

You should take time to think critically about the scope of the project.

what is the 5 why's tool

a simple root cause analysis tool for solving problems. It helps you get to the root cause of the problem by asking questions

(thinking the problem through) Focusing questions help you _____ a problem space.

bound

(What is critical thinking) Your team has completed writing recommendations for solving a major problem in your business unit. How can you make implementation go smoothly?

by anticipating unintended consequences

(thinking the problem through) When you change _____ you typically look at the problem from a different functional perspective.

context

looking at the problem through the perspective of another functional group entails ?

context

(using critical thinking tools) When performing detailed analyses, why should you view the situation from a broad perspective, or the high road, periodically?

to assess whether the detailed analysis is appropriate

(thinking the problem through) What are the main consequences of inadequately defining a problem?

wasted effort and an inappropriate solution

Low priority (bottom left)

we want to monitor them and communicate generally to keep them updated keep them to the right theses people are your help desk employees or assistant administrators

(What is critical thinking) When do you know that you have broken down a problem sufficiently?

when solutions begin to become obvious

(using critical thinking tools) Your colleague advocates for solving the easiest problems first. You advocate applying the 80/20 rule. When would your approaches agree?

when the easy problems have major impacts

The ethical perspective

Is that businesses have an obligation to conduct themselves in a way that treats each stakeholder group fairly. This view does not disregard the preferences and claims of shareholders, but takes the shareholder's interest into to consideration only to the extent that their interest can coincide with the greater good

What are the 6 Ms that correspond with the fish from diagram

Materials methods machines measurements mother nature manpower

(What is critical thinking) During the critical thinking process what's the first thing you should consider?

causes

Focusing questions help you define

the problem space and put boundaries on it. Without boundaries, your problem solving will be unfocused and inefficient.

what is the 80/20 rule (Pareto principle.)

you can't focus on that 80% that only drives 20% of the results.

distinguish causes vs. consequences: when you go out to solve a problem think..

Backwards about the causes, think forward about the consequences

Meet their needs (top left)

These are people like customers, sponsors who are investing in your product, or regulators. Engage and consult as well as increase and maintain level of interests. Aim to move them to the right and they could be a risk to your idea Many industries you have a government bodies that oversee your industry that may come in and do a plan or random inspections. They are not interested in day-to-day operations but are interested in the quality.

Stakeholders perspectives

These broad categories include the separation perspective the ethical perspective the integrated perspective

keep informed (bottom right)

They are interested in how things are operating but they don't have a lot of power to change your methods your strategy or your goals. Make use of their interest through involvement Consult on their area of interest Can be a supporter/ Ambassador

Break big problems into small ones: One of the first steps in any good critical thinking process is?

taking a very big problem and breaking it down into smaller ones that you can actually solve

distinguish causes vs. consequences: One of the biggest challenges we're going to face with any problem solving is?

that desire to rush off and get to an answer quickly, because we feel like we're being responsive to our stakeholders when we do.

(thinking the problem through) You've received a concise request for a short, simple project from a colleague in another department. Why should you talk with the stakeholder in more detail?

to better define the problem

(practice Critical thinking) You present your boss with an analysis and recommended actions for the employee retention program. Your boss asks what might happen in six months if you make these changes. You don't have an answer so your boss sends you away. What have you forgotten?

to examine the consequences of your analysis

Where do the ideas come from in the fish bone diagram?

1. Brainstorming 2. Waste walk ( where you observe the process you were working on and record the causes of the problems)

what are the steps to the 5 why's

1. Invite all affected 2. Select a meeting leader. 3. Ask "why" 5 times 4. Assign responsibilities for Solutions 5. Email your team the results

power grid

1. low priority 2. keep informed 3. meet their needs 4. key player

(What is critical thinking) What's the recommended strategy for dealing with a complex problem that has no obvious solution?

Break the problem down into smaller, more solvable pieces.

distinguish causes vs. consequences: When you're going through this critical thinking process, first consider?

Causes.

(thinking the problem through) Causality involves digging down to uncover root causes as well as considering the _____ of potential solutions.

Consequences

(using critical thinking tools) Why is asking repeated "whys" useful?

It enables you to get to root causes and a basic understanding of the true problem.

(using critical thinking tools) Why is it beneficial to repeatedly ask, "So what?"

It is easiest to think in small steps. People often answer with trivial or obvious explanations. The first answers may not yield the ultimate consequences.

(What is critical thinking) Why do people tend to rush off and start solving the problem without understanding causes and consequences first?

It makes them feel like they're being responsive to stakeholders.

key player (top right)

Manage closely and involve them in projects and decisions. Engage on a regular basis and work with them to maintain the relationship Could be people like subject matter experts, your project managers, your executives within your company, anyone with the ability to make decisions

high power/ lower interest stakeholders

Meet their needs

In the office respective people might use the 6 Ps that will correspond with the fishbone diagram what are they?

People process policy plant program product

Integrated perspective

Suggest that firms cannot function independently of the stakeholder environment in which they operate, making the effects of managerial decisions and actions on the non-owner stakeholders part and parcel of decisions and actions made in the interest of the owners

The separation perspective

Suggests that, because managers are agents of the firms owners (the shareholders) Manager should always strive to act in the best interest of the firms owners

fishbone diagram

The effect goes at the base of the diagram followed by a horizontal line whisper 6 spines coming off the backbone

low power/ low interest stakeholders

low priority

section: what is critical thinking video: the importance of critical thinking: Question: As part of your problem solving process, there are going to be multiple stakeholders involved. what does this do ?

This increases the complexity of trying to get to an answer. When you do ultimately come up with a recommendation, those big decisions will involve numerous trade-offs.

(using critical thinking tools) Metaphorically, the process of asking "why" five times is like what?

peeling an onion to the core

What is the overall goal of the fishbone diagram?

To organize your thinking and provide some structure the to problem solving process by making categories to help you improve in: 1. idea generation 2. transition to improve steps

Where was the five ways technique developed and by who?

Toyota motor corporation and Taiichi Ohno

the 5 why's ...

Uncovers the root cause of why something unexpected occurred and it helps a team create small, incremental steps so the same issue doesn't happen again

(thinking the problem through) Your team is being asked to revisit a project that they completed three years ago. Which question should they address to clarify the problem definition?

What circumstances have changed since three years ago?

(thinking the problem through) Your manager asks you to examine a new operational problem from the point of view of a customer. You are not clear on where to begin. How can you make a quick start on this task?

by interviewing a few customers

(using critical thinking tools) Challenging how the business runs means to _____.

imagine a redesign free from present constraints

(thinking the problem through) looking at prior efforts on a problem can help you understand previous limitations and gain _____ that can be applied the next time around.

institutional knowledge Many problems have been looked at in the past. Find out what was done before to help you solve your problem more quickly.

low power /high interest stakeholders

keep informed

high power/ high interest stakeholders

key player