1. <Project Name> <Name> SOLUTIONS / COUNTERMEASURES
<date>
BACKGROUND / BUSINESS CASE
What are you talking about and why? What is the purpose, the business reason for choosing this issue? What specific performance measure needs to be improved? What is the strategic, operational, historical, or organizational context of the situation?
STAKEHOLDERS
Customers – Identify all internal and external stakeholders.
Team Members – List the names of people involved in completing the A3 Problem Solving Tool.
CURRENT CONDITION
What data/measures do you have on the current situation (location, patterns, trends, frequency, factors)?
Diagram, process map, policies and procedures, forms on the current situation
What about the situation/process is not IDEAL?
What condition(s)/obstacle(s)/problem(s) is/are blocking you from improving performance?
ANALYSIS / ROOT CAUSES
List problem(s)/obstacle(s)
What is the root cause of the problem/obstacle ? Use the simplest root cause analysis tool that will suffice to show cause-and-effect down to root cause – start with 5 Whys and move to fishbone diagram, analysis trees, etc.
SOLUTIONS / COUNTERMEASURES
What options/solutions will address root causes and help you achieve the project goal(s) (i.e., close gap between current and target/future condition)?
Evaluate two or three options - include evaluation of no changes/status quo state.
How do the options compare (effectiveness, feasibility/costs, potential disruptions, ease to implement, etc.)?
What option do you recommend and why?
What issues or unintended consequences do you anticipate as a result of the change?
How will you mitigate or resolve negative impacts?
What communication or stakeholder engagement is needed?
What training is needed?
How will you measure performance and sustain improvements?
ACTION PLAN
What steps or actions do you need to take and in what order to achieve your target objective or project goal? [if needed, complete a detailed action plan]
Who will be responsible for what, when, and how much?
What support and resources will be required?
How will you measure effectiveness?
When will progress be reviewed and by whom?
Use a Gantt chart (or similar diagram) to display actions, steps, outcomes, timelines, and roles.
METRICS/FOLLOW-UP
Define metrics you will use to track progress and performance on targets (how you will validate results)
Define how and when you will check progress and performance (e.g., 30, 60, 90-day)
What processes will you use to enable, assure, and sustain success?
How will you share your learnings with others?
Action
Owner
Proposed Date
Actual Date

2. <Project Name> <Name> SOLUTIONS / COUNTERMEASURES
<date>
BACKGROUND / BUSINESS CASE
STAKEHOLDERS
Customers –
Team Members –
CURRENT CONDITION
ANALYSIS / ROOT CAUSES
SOLUTIONS / COUNTERMEASURES
ACTION PLAN
METRICS/FOLLOW-UP
Action
Owner
Proposed Date
Actual Date