Describe the problem

* (adults call this 'Cognition' and '**Problem Definition**')
* What made you think there is a problem? (adults call these '**Symptoms**')
    * What did your body tell you? (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Touch, Feelings)
    * What is making you think there is a problem? Worries? Concerns?
    * If the initial problem is large, vague, or unclear, clarify more
* **State the problem**
    * What did you want or expect to happen? (adults call this a 'Goal')
    * What actually happened?
    * Describe the **gap**
    * Gap = Expected results - Actual results = Problem (no gap = no problem)
    * State the problem in one sentence
    * Write it down to help focus on right thing

Gather Data

* What facts are important (adults say 'relevant')?
* Re-read your problem statement.
* Write down the facts you find
* Go see at the place where the problem happens
    * What did your body tell you? (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Touch, Feelings)
    * What are inputs and outputs?
    * What measurements could help?
* Intuition?
* What do I know?
* What is still unknown?
* What information is missing or not needed?
* Notice any patterns over time?
* How big is the problem? Do you need adults to help?
* Ask 5WH - Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?, How Much?
    * When = Timing
        * When was the last time expected = actual? Day? Time of day?
        * What changed around that time?
    * Who is involved in the problem? Who cares if it is solved? Do they have a preferred solution already?
* Are feelings important?
* What will we know when we solve the problem? How will we know we solved it?

Why is it happening?

* (adults call this 'Identify Cause(s)', and some adults forget this)
* Think what could have caused the gap (adults call these '**Possible Causes**')
    * What are your ideas? Why do you think that?
    * What are other people's ideas?
    * (older kids) Draw a fishbone cause and effect diagram
    * Go back to gather more information if needed
* Which cause best fits your information? (adults call this the '**Root Cause**')
    * Write down this cause to help focus

• Create Ideas - What could we do? What are the range of different ways of solving it?
  • (adults call this ‘Divergent Thinking’ or ‘Generate Alternatives')
  • What has already been tried to solve it?
  • Think or talk about different ways of solving it (stopping or countering the cause)
  • Mindmap your options
  • Give each choice a name or label

Explore Consequences of Choices

* (adults call this '**Convergent** Thinking' or 'Select **Best Solution**')
* Decide this by asking Why that way? Why then? Why there? Why them?
* Explore consequences - Ask "What might happen if...?" for each solution, does the predicted outcome solve it?
* Cause-oriented?
    * How does this solution reduce the effects of the cause?
    * How does this solution stop that cause from happening again?
* What is available to solve the problem? Time? Helpers? Pens and paper? Places you can use? Money?
* Estimate how much work or effort it will take.
* Is this realistic?
* Any limits? (adults call this 'Constraints')
    * How important is timing for a solution?
    * Is it safe?
    * Will helpers want to help?
* How flexible is this solution if things change?
* What could go wrong with this solution?  (adults call this 'Risk')
* What might go better than expected with this solution? (adults call this 'Opportunity')
    * How else can I do or consider this?

What's the best thing to do?

* Zero-in by getting rid of any solutions that don't fit well
* Pick from the surviving choices the solution that you think best fits the problem

Try to Solve it

* (adults call this 'PDCA' or the 'Deming Cycle')
* You may go through PDCA more than once

Plan

    * Is it safe?
    * Told adults what you intend and got permission to continue?
    * Do you need a temporary fix while you solve it?
    * Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?, How?
    * Focused on the cause?
    * Action plan = Steps you plan to follow
    * What do you predict will happen?
    * Who's help do you need?
    * What have other people done? (if similar enough to help)
    * Who will do what?
    * What do you need? Time? Helpers? Pens and paper? Places you can use? Money?
    * Back plan - work backwards from the end, step by step
    * Do you want to just fix it like it was or make it better?
    * What could go wrong with your plan? How can you work around that?
    * What might go better than expected? How can you encourage that?

Do

    * Who do you need to tell?
    * Try to solve the problem = Use your action plan

Check

    * How fast can you check if the solution is working? (faster is better)
    * Did it work?
        * Did what actually happened match what you predicted?
        * Did the results stop or reduce the effects of the cause?
        * Did the results solve the original problem statement?
    * How do you know? What information told you?
    * What did your body tell you now? (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Touch, Feelings)
    * Did it stop the cause?
    * Did it fix the problem? Is the gap still there?
    * Is your fix good enough? Why?

Adjust

    * If not fixed
        * Make needed changes, improvise
        * Try again
        * Mistakes happen, it is okay if you learn from them
        * If you fixed this cause, but it did not fix the problem, you may need another cause
    * If fixed
        * What else should be done to make sure it does not happen again?

Celebrate

* It worked!
* Feel good! You solved a problem!
* Thank any helpers!

Get Better

* (adults call this 'Lessons Learned' or Continuous Improvement')
* What went well?
* What did not go so well?
* How can you do better next time?
* What can we share with others about what we learned?
* (older kids) How can we standardize successful approaches?