Analysis
ANALYSIS

Knowing the WHY …
Understanding the purposes of a change, we may proceed to the next phase on the way to implement the change: ANALYSIS.

… we develop the goal …
While analyzing the desired change, we develop a problem statement. It defines what gets solved by implementing the change. During the analysis phase we also combine the purpose of the change (a result of the discovery phase) with the problem statement to declare a goal – a definition of what exactly we want to achieve by implementing the change. For a change to be successfully implemented, the goal must be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

… and identify root causes.
The problem statement is also used for root cause analysis. Knowing the root causes of the problem is an essential prerequisite for designing a good solution that enables achieving the goal. Using creative problem solving (CPS) techniques during the analysis phase is a good choice.

Appreciative inquiry
When serving our customers, we mostly use the problem solving approach as outlined above. However, we recognize the value of Appreciative inquiry and use it when applicable.

Do not underestimate the analysis
Our experience shows that organizations do not plan enough resources for the analysis phase. They take s shortcut (by skipping the analysis phase) and jump on designing solutions without understanding the problem at hand and its root causes.