Evaluate the Results
Once your problem solving strategy is implemented, the most important final step in the learning process occurs through purposeful evaluation. You should know how you will measure progress and success, and have a plan for how frequently those measurements will occur. Know what data will be required to measure progress, and have a process in place to track the data acquired.
Performance Measurement and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will help you document progress.
In his article, "12 Experts Define Key Performance Indicators," Rob Petersen states, "Here’s one of the best definition I’ve heard: KPI’s are an
actionable scorecard that keeps your strategy on track. They enable you
to manage, control and achieve desired business results."
He suggests the following steps:
Be aware of potential problems with using KPIs. In his article, "What is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)?," Bernard Marr states, "In practice, the term KPI is too loosely defined and very much overused. For many it describes any form of measurement data and performance metrics used to measure business performance. Instead of clearly identifying the information needs and then carefully designing the most appropriate indicators to assess performance, we often observe what we have termed the ‘ICE’ approach:
If you have carefully followed all of the steps of problem solving, you should have a clearly defined problem and solution and know exactly what you need to measure to avoid this issue.
He suggests the following steps:
- Always begin the construction of KPIs with a clear understanding of the desired results.
- Create an actionable scorecard. Pick the handful of measurements (generally no more a half dozen or so) that you believe are most important to the achievement of this goal.
- Keep your strategy on track by turning raw data into actionable metrics.
Be aware of potential problems with using KPIs. In his article, "What is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)?," Bernard Marr states, "In practice, the term KPI is too loosely defined and very much overused. For many it describes any form of measurement data and performance metrics used to measure business performance. Instead of clearly identifying the information needs and then carefully designing the most appropriate indicators to assess performance, we often observe what we have termed the ‘ICE’ approach:
- Identify everything that is easy to measure and count
- Collect and report the data on everything that is easy to measure and count
- End up scratching your head thinking “What the heck are we going to do with all this performance data stuff?"
If you have carefully followed all of the steps of problem solving, you should have a clearly defined problem and solution and know exactly what you need to measure to avoid this issue.
Using the data you have collected, ask yourself the following evaluation questions:
- What went right and what went wrong?
- How does this solution compare to other solutions?
- Were any likely solutions not considered?
- Can this solution be applied to other projects?
- Were any other problems created as a result of the solution?
- Is the end result the best solution?
- Did the solution completely fix the problem?
- How can this problem be avoided on future projects?
- Did you select the appropriate strategy?
- How much did implementing the solution cost? Did it fall within billing limits? Was any money saved as a result of implementing the solution?