Problem Solving

7 articles on problem solving.

3 January 20266 min readAnna Lavender-Moore

Structured Problem Solving: A Guide for Operations Teams

A practical guide to structured problem solving for operations teams: the core stages, how to run them, and why disciplined method beats gut-feel firefighting.

6 December 20256 min readDoug Allen

Root Cause Analysis: How to Find the Real Problem

A practical root cause analysis guide: how to move past symptoms, gather evidence, and find the underlying cause so operational problems stop coming back.

8 November 20256 min readDoug Allen

The 5 Whys: A Simple Tool for Getting to the Root Cause

Learn the 5 Whys technique: how to ask why five times to reach the root cause of a problem, with a worked example, common pitfalls and when to use it.

11 October 20255 min readAnna Lavender-Moore

Using PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) to Solve Problems That Stay Solved

How to use the PDCA cycle to solve problems for good: plan a change, test it small, check the evidence, then act to standardise what genuinely works well.

13 September 20256 min readDoug Allen

The 8D Problem-Solving Method Explained

The 8D problem solving method explained: all eight disciplines, from team building to prevention, and when to use this structured approach for serious problems.

16 August 20255 min readAnna Lavender-Moore

A3 Thinking: Solving Problems on a Single Sheet of Paper

A3 problem solving explained: how the single-sheet method structures thinking from background to follow-up, and why the discipline matters more than the paper.

26 July 20256 min readAnna Lavender-Moore

Fishbone Diagrams: Mapping the Causes of a Problem

A practical guide to the fishbone diagram: how to map the causes of a problem across categories, run a session, and turn a cluttered board into real action.