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