National GuardBlack Belt Training
National GuardBlack Belt Training
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Module 40
Solution Selection
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
CPI Roadmap – Improve
Note: Activities and tools vary by project. Lists provided here are not necessarily all-inclusive.
TOOLS
•Brainstorming
•Replenishment Pull/Kanban
•Stocking Strategy
•Process Flow Improvement
•Process Balancing
•Standard Work
•Quick Change Over
•Design of Experiments (DOE)
•Solution Selection Matrix
• ‘To-Be’ Process Mapping
•Poka-Yoke
•6S Visual Mgt
•RIE
ACTIVITIES• Develop Potential Solutions
• Develop Evaluation Criteria
• Select Best Solutions
• Develop Future State Process Map(s)
• Develop Pilot Plan
• Pilot Solution
• Develop Full Scale Action/
Implementation Plan
• Complete Improve Gate
1.Validate the
Problem
4. Determine Root
Cause
3. Set Improvement
Targets
5. Develop Counter-
Measures
6. See Counter-MeasuresThrough
2. IdentifyPerformance
Gaps
7. Confirm Results
& Process
8. StandardizeSuccessfulProcesses
Define Measure Analyze ControlImprove
8-STEP PROCESS
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
3Solution Generation and Selection
Learning Objectives
Know some of the principles of creative idea generation
Apply the idea generation brainstorming tools
Use tools to select and prioritize improvement ideas
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
4Solution Generation and Selection
Sources of Solutions
GenerateImprovement
Ideas
Root Causes
Project Goals
“Discoveries”During Analysis
Ideas from OtherProjects
Brainstorming
PerformanceTargets
Focus on one root cause at a time. Start with the root causes determined to have the biggest contribution to the problem statement.
Best Practices
BenchmarkIdeas
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
5Solution Generation and Selection
Solution Generation – Strength in Numbers
Both the strengths and the number of potential solutions generated have a huge impact on the strength of the final improvement solution selected
It is best to exhaust all of the ideas that the team can produce
Often, the best potential solutions emerge toward the end of intense creativity efforts when everybody has many details fresh in mind related to the problem at hand
The synthesis portion involves taking best characteristics from all the potential solutions to generate stronger solutions - the more potential solutions available to explore, the more opportunities for uncovering ideas for improvements
The selection portion involves deciding which solution improvements to implement
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
6Solution Generation and Selection
Generating Solutions
You need to generate as many potential solutions as possible for each root cause
Later in the process, you will narrow down, build on and combine these ideas into single solutions - at that point, the team will have two options:
Select the best solution for each function and then integrate them into one overall solution
Integrate different combinations of solutions into different overall solutions and select the best overall solution
But now you need to generate as many ideas as possible
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
7Solution Generation and Selection
Principles for Generating Solutions
Generating potential solutions is a very creativeprocess
Creativity methods and tools offer enormous value
Potential solutions are often best generated by individuals
Refining and synthesizing potential solutions is usually best performed in groups
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
8Solution Generation and Selection
Building on Creative Ideas
Far-FetchedIdea
Kernel ofSomething
Useful
Threshold ofAcceptability
Good Idea –Could Implement
PerfectIdea
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
9Solution Generation and Selection
Examples of Building on Creative Ideas
Far-FetchedIdea
Kernel ofSomething
Useful
Threshold ofAcceptability
Good Idea –Could Implement
PerfectIdea
StopAnsweringthe Phone
EducateCustomers So WeGet Fewer Calls
Far-FetchedIdea
Kernel ofSomething
Useful
Threshold ofAcceptability
Good Idea –Could Implement
PerfectIdea
Lie toCustomers
ExpandCustomization
Capability
National GuardBlack Belt Training
National GuardBlack Belt Training
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Idea Generation
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
11Solution Generation and Selection
Brainstorming – Used in Analyze Phase
Brainstorming is a structured method of generating unconstrained ideas/solutions and gaining engagement/involvement in the improvement process
It produces many ideas/solutions in a short time
It facilitates the creative thinking process
It separates idea generation from the organizing/assessment of the ideas
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
12Solution Generation and Selection
Rules for Effective Brainstorming
DO
Allow individuals to complete their thoughts
Build on existing ideas
Be brief when stating an idea
Organize, categorize, and evaluate only after the session
Strive for quantity
Don’t
Criticize ideas (allow “idea assassins”)
Make judgments as ideas are being offered
Paraphrase an individual’s idea when scribing
Dominate the session
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
13Solution Generation and Selection
Creative Thinking - Twenty Questions
Useful to “tear apart” an existing process or service and challenge all current assumptions prior to developing the next generation
Current Method
What happens?
Where is it done?
When is it done?
Who does it?
How is it done?
ReasonWhy do it? Why do it
there?Why do it then?
Why them? Why do it this way?
BetterWay
Can we do something else?
Can we do it somewhere else?
Can we do it some other time?
Can somebody else do it?
Can we do it some other way?
New IdeasWhat should we do?
Where should it be done?
When should it be done?
Who should do it?
How should it be done?
What? Where? When? Who? How?
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
14Solution Generation and Selection
Creative Thinking - Six Thinking Hats
White – Just the Facts – Facts, data, verifiable information
Red – Emotional –How do people feel, how will people feel
Black – Cautious –What can go wrong, risk identification
Blue – Process –Monitors use of the other hats
Green – Creative –Idea generation, out of the box
Yellow – Optimist –What are the opportunities
White
“Just theFacts”
Yellow
Optimist
Green
Creative
Blue
Process
Black
Cautious
Red
Emotional
Another tool that may help the team reach a good decision on the
best concept is the Six Thinking Hats Technique.
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
15Solution Generation and Selection
How To Use The Six Thinking Hats
Method 1 – Everyone has a different hat (variants)
A thinker puts on or takes off one of the hats
A facilitator asks a thinker to put on or take off one of the hats
All thinkers put on one hat for a period of time
Each thinker is assigned a different hat to wear for a period of time
All thinkers wear hats they do not “normally” wear
Method 2
Everyone (except facilitator) wears the same hat
Facilitator (blue hat) indicates when to change hats and what hat to wear
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Everyone brings assumptions to the problem-solving table. Such assumptions can reflect what we know or, as is often the case, what we think we know
Challenging conventional assumptions about your problem can help you turn obstacles into opportunities
Work to escape the self-imposed constraints that traditional assumptions often create
16Solution Generation and Selection
Challenge Assumptions
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
17Solution Generation and Selection
Random Word
This technique helps teams approach problems from different perspectives rather than through patterned ways of thinking
Pick a word, any word, and use what comes to mind to see if it applies to your problem
For example, what comes to mind when you think of the word “Satellite” as it relates to an Accounts Receivables problem? (e.g., e-Payment)
When that word is exhausted, pick another word
1 2 3 4 5
1 Skeleton Room Treadmill Oven Filter
2 Valley Fruit Library Purse Molecule
3 Maze Water Air Earth Money
4 Tunnel Altar Diamond Army Computer
5 Amoeba Anvil Bait Balloon Bible
6 Algebra Alphabet Child Lamp Leg
7 Menu Prison Monster Muscle Nest
8 Pepper Pill Satellite Pod Ring
9 Rainbow Rudder Safe Sauce Saloon
10 Ice Index Key Ladder Landslide Lever
Accounts Receivable (First Word: Satellite)
1 2 3 4 5
1 Skeleton Room Treadmill Oven Filter
2 Valley Fruit Library Purse Molecule
3 Maze Water Air Earth Money
4 Tunnel Altar Diamond Army Computer
5 Amoeba Anvil Bait Balloon Bible
6 Algebra Alphabet Child Lamp Leg
7 Menu Prison Monster Muscle Nest
8 Pepper Pill Satellite Pod Ring
9 Rainbow Rudder Safe Sauce Saloon
10 Ice Index Key Ladder Landslide Lever
Accounts Receivable (First Word: Satellite)
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
18Solution Generation and Selection
Random Personality
Similar to Random Word, this technique also helps teams approach problems from different perspectives rather than through patterned ways of thinking
Pick a well known personality, real or imaginary, and use what comes to mind to see if it applies to your problem
For example, “How would Mickey Mouse approach this?” – “have fun,” “control crowds,” etc.
When that personality is exhausted, pick another personality
General Patton Genghis Kahn Mickey Mouse
Fay Ray Madonna The Beatles
Bill Gates Jack Welch Our General
Sgt. Smith Spiderman Superman
Batman Harry Potter Frodo
JFK Pres. Bush Winston Churchill
National GuardBlack Belt Training
National GuardBlack Belt Training
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Solution Selection
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
20Solution Generation and Selection
Possible Solutions
Acceptable Solutions
Screen Out
“Show Stoppers”
Narrow List
Likely Solutions
Prioritized List
Only if brainstorming
generated many
different solutions.
Selection Flow Chart
Nominal Group
Technique
Benefit/Effort
MatrixPugh Matrix
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
21Solution Generation and Selection
Screen Out Show Stoppers
Eliminate low payoff solutions
Screen against must criteria
Violate a law or regulation
Conflict with Organization policy, values, or strategy
Conflict with customer requirements
Require investments well beyond the scope of the project
Not be practical or feasible
Be too risky
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
22Solution Generation and Selection
Use Nominal Group Techniques
Need a clarified list of items to choose from
Give each person a number of cards/slips of paper equal to the number of choices they will have (5-10)
Choose the “best” items, one per slip
One at a time, choose best item, item to eliminate, best item, etc. and give them a score, best item has most points
Record votes, number and total score to serve as a basis for discussion
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
23Solution Generation and Selection
Eliminate all high effort/low payoff solutions from further consideration
Solution Selection Matrix (PICK Chart)
A payoff matrix looks at the relationship of benefit and effort to reduce the number of solutions to address.
High
Low
Low High
Effort
Benefit
IMPLEMENT
POTENTIAL
CONSIDER
KILL
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
24Solution Generation and Selection
The Benefit/Effort Matrix
Benefit
Amount of contribution to the issue being addressed
Financial benefits
“Moves the Y”
Effort
Amount of resources used to get benefit
Money spent – capital expenditures are more effort than non-capital
Time/effort needed
Breadth of coordination needed
Regulation/policy issues
High
Low
Low HighEffort
Benefit
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
25Solution Generation and Selection
Process for Pugh Matrix
1. Create a list of criteria (usually before idea generation)
2. Weight the list of criteria (usually before idea generation)
3. Record a list of solutions
4. Initial screening of solutions
5. Compare the list of solutions to the weighted criteria – score each
6. Total scores for each solution – discuss results
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
26Solution Generation and Selection
Pugh Matrix Example
We
igh
t
Imp
rov
ed F
ore
cas
t
Em
plo
yee E
mp
ow
erm
en
t
Sm
art
Data
base
Fore
casti
ng M
AC
H
Hyb
rid
Pro
cess
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities 10 H H H H
Business Base Forecast drives staffing forecast. 15 H H
All Employees are addressed 13 H H
Order satisfied by need date 4 M M M H
Identifies the right person (skill match) 15 M M H H
Simple process 8 L H M L
Real time status of orders 1 M M M H
Provides exception visibility 2 M M M H
Real need dates on orders 10 M M M H
Measurable, trackable process 9 H H H H
Rapid identification of need to hire 10 M L L H
Efficient movement of people between teams 13 L M H H
Score 318 388 508 252 926
Blank = 0, L = 1, M = 3, H = 9
Criteria
Solutions
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
27Solution Generation and Selection
Exercise: Generate & Prioritize Solutions
In small teams
For the GGA Budget Simulation, use one of the idea generation techniques:
Round-robin brainstorming
Brainstorming with Random word/personality
Twenty Questions
Six Thinking Hats
Challenging Assumptions
Use one of the idea selection techniques:
Payoff Matrix (PICK Chart)
Nominal Group Technique
Pugh Matrix
30 Minutes
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Solution Selection Matrix Template
R
oo
t C
au
se
s (
Xs
)?
T
ime
to
Is
su
e I
nv
oic
e
C
om
ple
te
A
cc
ura
cy
P
res
en
tati
on
P
er
Co
mm
erc
ial
Term
s
L
ev
el
of
Eff
ort
Root Cause Significance Rating ? 10 10 10 10 10 10
Potential Improvements ? Impact Rating
Offshore Costs 7 1 5 8 1 10 320 8
Commercial Terms 8 4 2 5 10 7 360 7
Quantity of Source Data 8 5 7 7 1 10 380 6
Reconciliation 10 10 10 1 10 10 510 6
Quality of Source Data 7 7 7 7 7 7 420 7
Training 8 7 10 5 8 10 480 6
Client (eg RCTI) 6 2 2 10 8 8 360 5
Job Setup 10 4 10 6 10 10 500 5
Payroll Close Date 8 10 1 1 1 8 290 8
Pre-Billing 10 8 6 8 2 10 440 5
Client Reporting Requirements 7 9 4 10 10 10 500 4
Delivery Method 9 1 1 5 5 7 280 9
Job Completion 7 10 1 7 5 10 400 3
Job Manager Requirements 9 7 5 4 8 9 420 2
O
ve
rall
Im
pa
ct
Rati
ng
R
isk
Ra
tin
g
* Solutions ranked > 450 have been selected to be implemented
Required Deliverable
- Example -
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
Implementation Plan Template
Required Deliverable
PROJECT NAME DIVISION GREEN BELT DATE
PROJECT SPONSOR SERVICE AREA / FUNCTION / SERVICE BLACK BELT
Implementation
NumberSolution
Control Action
NumberImprovement Action
Responsible
Individual/
Solution Owner
Issues/Barriers Risk MitigationTarget/ Actual
Complete DateCurrent Status/ Comments
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
30Solution Generation and Selection
Takeaways
Now you should be able to
Describe some of principles of creative idea generation
Use Brainstorming to generate ideas
Use Nominal Group Technique, Benefit/Effort Matrix, and Pugh Matrix to prioritize a list of ideas
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO
What other comments or questions
do you have?