DDDM exam 1

Consider the following Excel equation: =sum($B6:$B9). If this equation is copied to a cell three cells to the right and two cells down, the result will be: =sum($E6:$E9) =sum($B6:$B9) =sum($B8:$B11) =sum($E8:$E11)

=sum($B8:$B11)

Consider the following use of a function in Excel: =countif(A3:A12,4). The arguments are: countif A3:A12 4 =

A3:A12

What's the recommended strategy for dealing with a complex problem that has no obvious solution? List out the consequences, then analyze the cause for each one. Assign parts of the problem to each person on your team. Throw in the towel and go out for a double latte. Break the problem down into smaller, more solvable pieces.

Break the problem down into smaller, more solvable pieces.

Which of the following most likely describes an appropriate use of a balanced scorecard? Identify the causes for any gap between targets and actual values for each indicator Determining the causes for delays between leading and lagging indicators Work backward from skills and capabilities up to owners to determine the chain of cause-and-effect

Determining the causes for delays between leading and lagging indicators

Which of the following is most likely a benefit of defining a table and using it in an equation or function? Table references are shorter than cell references. Many Excel functions can only accept tables as their arguments. Excel will automatically determine which column to use in the calculation. If entries are added to the table in the future they are automatically included in the equation or function.

If entries are added to the table in the future they are automatically included in the equation or function.

Which of these is most likely a problem associated with the "5 whys" approach? It relies on personal experience. It is an introductory method of problem solving. It's data driven.

It relies on personal experience.

Which of the following is least likely a benefit of using the "5 whys" approach? Prevents treating symptoms rather than problems. It's easy to teach. It's unbiased.

It's unbiased.

Which of the following is true about the "5 whys" approach? You begin with the observed effect or symptom and ask why it occurred. The goal is to determine all possible causes of a problem. There are 5 questions to ask, each of which begins with "why".

You begin with the observed effect or symptom and ask why it occurred.

An ice cream shop keeps a record of every time a customer asks for a flavor it doesn't carry. These records are recorded in a spreadsheet. In order to determine the most popular "missing" flavor, the first step would be to use: the rank() function. the countif() function. the sort tool on the data tab. an advanced filter.

an advanced filter.

Focusing questions help you _____ a problem space. bound share solve avoid

bound

The fishbone diagram is also known as the: martingale diagram. cause-and-effect diagram. 6-sigma matrix. decision tree.

cause-and-effect diagram.

During the critical thinking process what's the first thing you should consider? causes stakeholder goals schedule consequences

causes

Causality involves digging down to uncover root causes as well as considering the _____ of potential solutions. scope costs causes consequences

consequences

A decision to radically alter a business' salary structure is most likely an example of a: - revenue blow-up. - business model blow-up. - cost blow-up.

cost blow up

How would you run your business with 50% less employees? This question is most relevant when analyzing your _____. cost blow-up business model blow-up antonioni blow-up revenue blow-up

cost blow-up

Which of the following is most likely a lagging indicator? Order fulfillment speed Manufacturing delays Customer satisfaction Online catalog ease of use

customer satisfaction

In a fishbone diagram, the head contains the: root cause. solution. primary stakeholder. effect.

effect

Which of the following is most likely a characteristic of high quality critical thinking? - Focusing on existing - performance indicators. - Presenting results of all analytical tests that are run. - Focusing on root causes not symptoms. - Proposing a solution as quickly as possible.

focusing on root causes not symptoms

Suppose we are using a KPI the is continuously updated. A question we must most likely ask is: - How often should we look at it? - How cheap is it to collect? - Does its availability meet our tracking needs?

how often should we look at it?

Which of the following is least likely a characteristic of a KPI? It measures performance It is quantifiable It is related to strategic goals It is a leading indicator

it is a leading indicator

Defining a clear problem statement can help you avoid this common pitfall. jumping to answers too quickly focusing on the unimportant not thinking of future consequences being unwilling to expand the problem space

jumping to answers too quickly

Which of the following is not among the "6 M's" that are sometimes used in a fishbone diagram? materials methods money measurements

money

Metaphorically, the process of asking "why" five times is like what? zesting an orange to produce a new spice cooking a broth to blend the flavors peeling an onion to the core dicing a large cauliflower into smaller florets

peeling an onion to the core

Which of the following is not among the "6 P's" that are sometimes used in a fishbone diagram? program politics product process

politics

Grades on an exam are best categorized as an example of: ratio scale data ordinal data interval scale data nominal data

ratio scale data

Which of these is least likely a characteristic of a good KPI? able to update regularly represents financial data aligned with a strategic goal easy to interpret

represents financial data

Which of the following is least likely found in each row of a balanced scorecard? Initiatives Targets Metrics Results

results

The "5 whys" is most likely a tool designed to help determine a problem's: - success criteria - root causes - consequences - symptoms

root causes

An associated independent and dependent variable are most commonly graphed as a: scatter plot with the dependent variable on the y-axis and the independent variable on the x-axis. line graph with both variables on the y-axis and time on the x-axis. two pie charts, one for each variable. scatter plot with the independent variable on the y-axis and the dependent variable on the x-axis.

scatter plot with the dependent variable on the y-axis and the independent variable on the x-axis.

When we first encounter a problem, we are mostly likely to observe its: - causes. - resolution. - initial occurrence - symptoms.

symptoms

Analyzing causes involves evaluating _____ and finding the ____ for each one. consequences; solution performance; measurement goals; milestones symptoms; root cause

symptoms; root cause

Which of the following is least likely a problem with an organization's KPIs? Copied from other companies There are too few They are descriptive They are not made known to employees

there are too few

We develop an experiment in which we measure how quickly a pot of water boils based on the heat setting on the stove and the amount of salt we add to the pot. In this experiment: time to boil is a dependent variable and the amount of salt is an independent variable. the amount of salt and the heat setting are dependent variables. time to boil and heat setting are independent variables. heat setting is a dependent variable and time to boil is an independent variable.

time to boil is a dependent variable and the amount of salt is an independent variable.

What does a problem statement define, overall? what success for the project looks like the tasks involved in solving the problem the symptoms of the problem what role each stakeholder will take

what success for the project looks like

Viewing a problem "through a different lens" is least likely accomplished by looking at the problem: - from a different point of view. - assuming different circumstances. - in a different context. - with different objectives.

with different objectives

(a) Which is developed first, a scorecard or a dashboard? (b) And which is a graphical presentation, a scorecard or a dashboard? (a) dashboard (b) dashboard (a) scorecard (b) dashboard (a) scorecard (b) scorecard (a) dashboard (a) scorecard

(a) scorecard (b) dashboard

Which of the following should most likely be included in a problem statement? So whats" Root causes Success criteria Results of analysis

Success criteria

Comparing the solutions from _____ can improve your analysis and lead to the discovery of new kinds of solutions. successful projects unauthorized projects unrelated projects high-level projects

unrelated projects

Three of these choices are benefits of looking for the question behind a stakeholder's question. Find the choice that is not a benefit. your solution will be bigger and better you avoid solving symptoms you know the exact analyses to perform you get a better sense of causes

you know the exact analyses to perform

What's the most productive way to apply the 80/20 principle to critical thinking? Spend 80% of your effort analyzing causes, and 20% analyzing consequences. 20% of your efforts are unnecessary and should be cut. Focus on the efforts that impact 20% of the results. Focus on the efforts that impact 80% of the results.

Focus on the efforts that impact 80% of the results.

Asking "the question behind the question" is most likely related to: - The assumptions that are being relied upon - The root cause of the problem - The consequences of proposed solutions - The motivation for asking the question

the motivation for asking the question

The "7 so whats" approach is most likely designed to help determine: - the assumptions underlying a business' operational structure. - the potential causes of an observed symptom. - the chain of events leading from problem to solution. - consequences of proposed solutions to a problem.

consequences of proposed solutions to a problem

The "7 So What's" are a tool for analyzing _____. causes underlying problems probability of milestones roots of origin consequences of recommendations

consequences of recommendations

The "7 So What's" are a tool for analyzing _____. probability of milestones causes underlying problems consequences of recommendations roots of origin

consequences of recommendations

Which of the following is least likely a column on a balanced scorecard? - Goods and Services - Owners - Customers - Skills and Capabilities

goods and services

The 80/20 rule-of-thumb most likely reminds us to solve problems that: - have clearly defined causes. - affect all stakeholders. - have especially large impacts. - are unlikely to have measurable consequences.

have especially large impacts

If you want to improve your team's critical thinking skills you'll need to introduce them to the tools, give them opportunities to practice, coach them along the way, and _____. teach them to believe in themselves hold them accountable when they don't apply the methods reward the best performing team member encourage them to rate each other's work

hold them accountable when they don't apply the methods

Looking at prior efforts on a problem can help you understand previous limitations and gain _____ that can be applied the next time around. root causes institutional knowledge stakeholder consequences schedule wins

institutional knowledge

A thought map differs from the "5 whys" approach in that is: may identify multiple root causes, not a single one. examines multiple problems simultaneously, not a single one. is designed to be used by a team to analyze problems, rather than an individual. Will naturally grow more complex over time.

may identify multiple root causes, not a single one.

Which of the following is most likely a way to prioritize the use of resources in problem solving? - Go back as far in time as possible. - Performance analysis that ties directly back to the problem. - Use the most sophisticated analytical tools that are available. - Include all available data in the analysis.

performance analysis that ties directly back to the problem

Three different lenses for thinking critically are to change your _____, to change the context, or to change the reality of the problem space. feelings point of view clothes project statement

point of view

An indicator tells you that 62% of a new inventory system's development is completed. This is most likely an example of an indicator that is: a raw number progress related directional

progress related