Problem Solving Learning Track

Last updated by Jeff Hajek on May 30, 2023

We’ve got loads of content on our site, and know it can be overwhelming to sort through it. To help you navigate your way around, our learning tracks walk you through a path of study.

Follow the links in sequence to build an outstanding knowledge of problem solving. You can take the basic journey for free. We also offer quite a bit of content when you subscribe to our newsletter. But if you want to get the most out of your training time, we recommend you invest in our premium audio / visual products.

Our Membership Programs are loaded with great content to power your learning.

Lean Terms Videos

How to Use This List

  1. Start at the beginning of the list and work your way down.
  2. Save time by listening to the MP3 while driving.
  3. Skim over the terms/articles you already know about. We pack a lot of content in, so you might find something new. Worst case, it is a good refresher.
  4. Don’t cover more than a few topics in a day. You’ll have a harder time retaining it.
  5. Do the activities in the ‘Next Steps’, if available. If not, try putting the information to immediate use. You’ll remember more of it.
  6. Start working on problems immediately. You should always have at least one active problem solving project going on at any time. It will give you an opportunity to try out the information.

About Our Learning Tracks

Many continuous improvement topics overlap. Some of the items in this list also apply to other topics (i.e. kaizen, leadership, Lean 101). Some lessons will appear in more than one list. Others may be intentionally left off of a list to avoid scope creep. Feel free to copy the table and adjust the lessons as desired.

Keep the overlap in mind, though, as you purchase our premium content, to avoid repetitive purchases when you start a new track.

Lesson Free Product Premium Product
Problem Solving (+Video) PDF, Video Clip, MP3 Clip MP3
Problems    
Six Sigma    
DMAIC-Lean Six Sigma Problem Solving    
PDCA Cycle (+11-Page PDF, +Video) PDF, Video Clip, MP3 Clip MP3
PDCA Training Module   Video, Training Materials
8D for Lean Problem Solving / 8 Disciplines (+Video +MP3) PDF, Video Clip, MP3  
Scientific Method    
Root Cause    
Abnormal Conditions    
Abnormal Conditions and Parking Lots    
Abnormality Management    
Predictive Problem Solving    
Process Improvement    
Value    
Objective vs. Subjective MP3  
Symptoms    
Assumptions    
80/20 Rule    
Critical Few    
Issues    
Intermittent Problems    
Low Hanging Fruit    
Aha! Moments    
Best Practices    
Perfection    
Better, Not Perfect PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Simplicity    
Complexity    
Creativity    
Rule of Thumb    
SWAG    
Current State Map    
Are You Worrying About the Right Things?    
The Hardest Step of Problem Solving    
Daily Improvement    
Luck (+ Lean PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Peer Pressure    
What Is the 10-year Old Mindset?    
Define (DMAIC Step)    
Scope    
Goal Setting    
Action Plan    
Action Date    
9-Square (Prioritization Tool)    
Data    
Data Collection (+9 Page Lean PDF, +Video) PDF, Video Clip, MP3 Clip MP3
Data Collection Module   Video, Training Materials
Evidence    
Facts and Data    
Analysis    
6 Big Data Analysis Mistakes That Hinder Lean Efforts (+PDF) PDF  
Attribute Data    
Bias (In Data Collection)    
Skew    
Variation    
Random    
Drift (Process)    
Precision    
Accuracy    
Difference Between Precision and Accuracy    
Correlation    
Correlation or Causation? Interceptions and the Playoffs.    
Apples to Oranges Comparisons    
Mean (Average)    
Median    
Mode    
Surveys    
Stopwatch    
Stopwatches are everywhere    
Observation    
Opinions    
Predictability    
Patterns    
Hidden Factory (Hidden Process)    
7 Basic Tools of Quality / 7 QC Tools    
Brainstorming Techniques    
5 Whys (+Lean PDF +Video +Form) PDF, Video, MP3 Clip MP3
5 Whys Form (+ Video +Form) Form  
Root Cause Analysis and the 5 Whys Module   Video, Training Materials
Cause and Effect (Fishbone) Diagram (+ Video) PDF, Video, MP3 Clip MP3
Cause and Effect Diagram Training Module   Video, Training Materials
6 M’s    
6 P’s    
CEDAC    
Flow Chart (+ 11-Page Term on PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Flow Charts Module   Video, Training Materials
Pareto Chart (+Lean PDF) PDF, Video, MP3 Clip MP3
Pareto Charts Training Module   Video, Training Materials
Run Chart (+Video, +9-Page PDF) PDF, Video, MP3 Clip MP3
Run Charts Module   Video, Training Materials
Affinity Diagram    
Bar Charts    
Check Sheet    
Checklists (+Lean PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Histogram    
FMEA Worksheet (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Form) Form  
FMEA / Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Training Module Training Materials  
Noise to Constant Sheet Form  
Solutions    
Stopgaps (+ Lean PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Reaction Plan    
Workaround    
Countermeasures    
Countermeasure Sheet Form  
Countermeasures Module   Video, Training Materials
Decision    
Decision-Making    
Decision Point    
Decision Trees    
Compromise    
Decision Matrix Template (+Video +Tool) Form, Video  
Negotiation    
Memory    
Occam’s Razor    
Take Can’t Out of Your Vocabulary    
Visual Control    
Problem Solving: Creative Ideas Don’t Have to Cost a Fortune    
Target Condition    
Future State Value Stream Map (VSM)    
Pilot Project    
Control (DMAIC Step)    
Results    
Risk Management    
Follow-Up    
Briefback    
Hawthorne Effect    
Communication (+ 6-Page PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Ownership    
Cross-Functional Team    
Meetings    
Contract (of Change)    
Dashboard    
Is Success Possible?    
Our Process Is Different (+ 5-Page Lean PDF)    
Every Approval Is a Leadership Failure    
How to Overcome 24 Common Lean Excuses (+PDF)    
6 Ways to Improve Problem Solving in Your Company PDF  
8 Reasons People Resist Change (+Video +PDF +MP3) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Collective Intelligence and Lean. How to Harness All of Your Team’s Brainpower    
Delphi Method    
Failure Isn’t Really Failure    
Groupthink    
Kaizen Creativity: Breaking Preconceived Notions    
Paradigm / Paradigm Shift    
Parkinson’s Law (+ 5-Page Lean PDF) PDF, MP3 Clip MP3
Repeatability    
Speaking in Negatives    
Sunk Costs    
The Problem With PDCA    
You don’t participate in problem-solving because you don’t like conflict.    
You don’t think a problem is getting the resources it needs to fix it.    
You don’t participate in problem-solving because you don’t like…    
You find it hard to get your boss to come to the same conclusions as you do.    
You see problems that need fixing, but the boss thinks you like complaining.    

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