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Four Types of Problems
When faced with problems many business leaders and teams reach for familiar and standard problem-solving methods, often creating unnecessary struggle, frustration, delay, and ineffectiveness in solving the problem -- if it is ever solved at all! In other words, they keep reaching for the same old hammer as if every business problem were a nail.
In Four Types of Problems, continuous improvement expert and author Art Smalley shows you how to break the “hammer-and-nail” trap. He demonstrates that most business problems fall into four main
“Organizations and individuals at all levels fall into the trap of having one primary or standard way of solving every problem,” writes Smalley, who learned problem solving from Tomoo Harada at Toyota’s historic Kamigo engine plant. Harada led the maintenance activities that created the stability needed for Taiichi Ohno’s innovations in the Toyota Production System.
Each type of problem category requires different thought processes, improvement methods, and management cadences. Each type has its own sub-system and surfacing mechanism, management cadence, timing, and difficulty level, he explained. One size does not fit all situations and just training people in tools or techniques only scratches the surface of problem solving.
In Four Types of Problems you’ll
In Four Types of Problems, continuous improvement expert and author Art Smalley shows you how to break the “hammer-and-nail” trap. He demonstrates that most business problems fall into four main
“Organizations and individuals at all levels fall into the trap of having one primary or standard way of solving every problem,” writes Smalley, who learned problem solving from Tomoo Harada at Toyota’s historic Kamigo engine plant. Harada led the maintenance activities that created the stability needed for Taiichi Ohno’s innovations in the Toyota Production System.
Each type of problem category requires different thought processes, improvement methods, and management cadences. Each type has its own sub-system and surfacing mechanism, management cadence, timing, and difficulty level, he explained. One size does not fit all situations and just training people in tools or techniques only scratches the surface of problem solving.
In Four Types of Problems you’ll
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2019
64 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 6, 2019
I have always gotten a lot of Art Smalley’s writing, and Four Types of Problems continues that trend — his ability to explain complex high-level concepts at an understandable level makes his style very readable and not the least bit dull. I found it interesting that the man who co-wrote one of the best books A3 thinking explains how A3 is not the only problem-solving method and for certain problems is the wrong method of problem-solving.
The author organized this book very well and does a great job of not making this another “Toyota method” book. He starts with a summary of what the “problems” are and historically who some of the key players were in solving them and what methods did they devised. Then he tackles each problem one at a time and gives you bite-sized methods for attacking each problem. You will not become an expert problem solver simply by reading this book, but you be knowledgeable in the various techniques and will be able to research further where your learning gaps are. This book certainly could have been a 700-page anthology of all problem-solving techniques, but the author does a good job of keeping it easy to digest. Additionally, he provides some good resources if you're interested in learning more about certain techniques or simply need to bridge your learning gap.
I had always considered the first two methods “problems,” troubleshooting and gaps from standard, but I guess I never really looked at improving to a target or designing for lean or six sigma as “problems,” I had considered them “opportunities.” Whatever you call these “things,” this book gives you a straightforward approach on methods to attack them.
The author organized this book very well and does a great job of not making this another “Toyota method” book. He starts with a summary of what the “problems” are and historically who some of the key players were in solving them and what methods did they devised. Then he tackles each problem one at a time and gives you bite-sized methods for attacking each problem. You will not become an expert problem solver simply by reading this book, but you be knowledgeable in the various techniques and will be able to research further where your learning gaps are. This book certainly could have been a 700-page anthology of all problem-solving techniques, but the author does a good job of keeping it easy to digest. Additionally, he provides some good resources if you're interested in learning more about certain techniques or simply need to bridge your learning gap.
I had always considered the first two methods “problems,” troubleshooting and gaps from standard, but I guess I never really looked at improving to a target or designing for lean or six sigma as “problems,” I had considered them “opportunities.” Whatever you call these “things,” this book gives you a straightforward approach on methods to attack them.
April 22, 2020
The "Four Types of Problem - from reactive troubleshooting to creative innovation" is a book by lean expert, Art Smalley. It is one of those seminal lean works that belong in the category of "books I wish had been around years ago."
Mr. Smalley comes to this subject as an expert born out of the famous Toyota Kamigo engine plant, which itself was the testing ground of the legendary Toyota Production System (TPS), under the eyes of the great Taiichi Ohno.
In short, Art Smalley knows his stuff. In this book, he shares his know-how with the humility and the clarity that can only come from a deep, almost molecular understanding of his subject. The result is a book that may well become required reading on many lean learning programmes of the future.
Mr. Smalley's contribution recognizes that humanity has always been solving problems, but that at least some of our successes have been by more luck than judgement.
By describing problems across the spectrum of business endeavour, from the small quick fix to the game-changing innovation, Mr. Smalley succeeds in finally making the term "problem" synonymous with the word we always wanted to use: opportunity.
Mr. Smalley offers routines to guide you in extracting the highest value from each level of opportunity and includes methods to help unfetter the thinking to capture those opportunities, of which we are not yet aware.
The author, helpfully, provides a framework which you can use to hold a mirror up to your business and people. How well do you really solve problems?
Many of us, including myself, cannot claim proficiency in all four of the levels described by Mr. Smalley, but thanks to this engaging author, I am at least in a place to brush up on my skills.
The "Four Types of Problem" is written in a clear style that is informative and easy to read. The book is academically referenced and contains a bibliography that will add significantly to your reading list, so beware! But such is Mr. Smalley's obvious passion and knowledge for the subject of lean and problem solving that he has been able to produce such an important and accessible work.
This book is a must-read for lean students, from beginners to experts alike. There is something here for everyone, and all will take away something to refresh their perspective.
This work is highly recommended, is a modern-day business class, and merits an easy five stars.
Mr. Smalley comes to this subject as an expert born out of the famous Toyota Kamigo engine plant, which itself was the testing ground of the legendary Toyota Production System (TPS), under the eyes of the great Taiichi Ohno.
In short, Art Smalley knows his stuff. In this book, he shares his know-how with the humility and the clarity that can only come from a deep, almost molecular understanding of his subject. The result is a book that may well become required reading on many lean learning programmes of the future.
Mr. Smalley's contribution recognizes that humanity has always been solving problems, but that at least some of our successes have been by more luck than judgement.
By describing problems across the spectrum of business endeavour, from the small quick fix to the game-changing innovation, Mr. Smalley succeeds in finally making the term "problem" synonymous with the word we always wanted to use: opportunity.
Mr. Smalley offers routines to guide you in extracting the highest value from each level of opportunity and includes methods to help unfetter the thinking to capture those opportunities, of which we are not yet aware.
The author, helpfully, provides a framework which you can use to hold a mirror up to your business and people. How well do you really solve problems?
Many of us, including myself, cannot claim proficiency in all four of the levels described by Mr. Smalley, but thanks to this engaging author, I am at least in a place to brush up on my skills.
The "Four Types of Problem" is written in a clear style that is informative and easy to read. The book is academically referenced and contains a bibliography that will add significantly to your reading list, so beware! But such is Mr. Smalley's obvious passion and knowledge for the subject of lean and problem solving that he has been able to produce such an important and accessible work.
This book is a must-read for lean students, from beginners to experts alike. There is something here for everyone, and all will take away something to refresh their perspective.
This work is highly recommended, is a modern-day business class, and merits an easy five stars.
January 18, 2020
I'm giving this book five stars because there are many insights for those who work in change management, continuous improvement roles, and project management roles. There are well written and useful sections on troubleshooting, diagnosis, and problem solving that dive a little deeper and even outside of the typical 5 Why's and other rote problem solution thinking methods. You can't continuous improve using the same methodology all the time.
September 11, 2023
Livre très intéressant pour analyser et régler des problèmes de production ou de processus. Art Smalley, un vétéran de l'approche "lean thinking", présente sa typologie et fait le survol des outils existants pour régler chacun des quatre types de problèmes.
La théorie en soi est simple à saisir et permet une mise en perspective très intéressante. Le genre de livre synthèse pour quiconque souhaite posséder un angle d'analyse de type "lean".
La théorie en soi est simple à saisir et permet une mise en perspective très intéressante. Le genre de livre synthèse pour quiconque souhaite posséder un angle d'analyse de type "lean".
January 12, 2023
4 lines of defence
Everyone deserves respect, deserves to have their opinion taken into account, so that they can learn and apply their knowledge. The book shows how to do this in a systematic way. How to engage everyone in continuous improvement. This is one of the best books on Lean.
Everyone deserves respect, deserves to have their opinion taken into account, so that they can learn and apply their knowledge. The book shows how to do this in a systematic way. How to engage everyone in continuous improvement. This is one of the best books on Lean.
September 8, 2022
Synopsis of Organizational Problem Solving
This book laid out the four types of
of problems and how to solve them in a very readable, easily understood, and relatable style. Whether you are an expert or newbie, there is something to learn. Highly recommend!
This book laid out the four types of
of problems and how to solve them in a very readable, easily understood, and relatable style. Whether you are an expert or newbie, there is something to learn. Highly recommend!
May 3, 2020
Good book!
This book give you a nice framework whre you stand in problem solving , the ilustrations are very usefull even to train people.
This book give you a nice framework whre you stand in problem solving , the ilustrations are very usefull even to train people.
August 8, 2023
Nice book for those who are interested in structured thinking.
The author explore more about the first, second and third kind of problem, which are the most frequent problem in organizations.
The author explore more about the first, second and third kind of problem, which are the most frequent problem in organizations.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews