Problem-solving is the process of identifying a problem, determining its cause, and developing a solution. It is a critical skill for individuals and teams to have, as it can help to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality. To facilitate the process of problem-solving, we have designed this Problem-Solving Template.
Improve the way to solve problems
The biggest issue about effectively resolving problems is not having a clear process in place and then skipping the very important first step: defining the problem. This is why we believe that visualizing the way to solve problems on a Kanban board is an instant improvement.
Board Columns
For this board template we use the simple 5-step process: Define, Analyze, Contain, Solve, Confirm. Each card represents a problem that must flow through each step (column) and obviously, none of the steps can be skipped. The key is to respect the flow of the board, and by having a clearly defined process and visualizing it on a Kanban board, problems will get solved correctly the first time.
Card Labels
There are many versions of severity classifications for problem-solving. We chose to start simple with the 3 levels format of Minor, Moderate, and Critical. As you can see in the screenshot below, you can easily modify the card labels once you use this board template on Kanban Zone. You can add, edit, and delete card labels and set your own colors and description for each label. Lastly, you can also set a default card label for all your new cards. We chose Moderate as the default.
Explicit Policies
You will also notice that under each column, there are detailed bullets to explain what exactly should happen to the card while in that column. These are called explicit agreements and help users ensure that all of the proper steps are completed before moving the card forward. Although following these explicit agreements is important on all boards, when it comes to processes like problem resolution, you can save a lot of time and money by being more efficient in the way you solve problems. We provided simple bullets in this template, but you can modify these to match your specific policies.
Improved results using the Problem Solving Template
Problems should get resolved fast. We believe that having a Kanban board to resolve problems is essential in confirming that a real process is in place and followed. Over time, as you get used to solving your problems on a Kanban board, you will continue to find ways to improve your process, board, card labels, policies, etc.
Lastly, all our Kanban boards include reports to track that you are truly getting better over time. So remember to review your cycle time and throughput metrics to confirm that you are indeed improving. Are you ready to make your problems go away faster?
