8/18/2019 A3 Thinking - Template

1/3

Title: What you are talking about.

Background

Current Situation

Goal

Analysis

Recommendations

Plan

Follo ! u"

Why are you talking about it? 

Where do we stand? 

Where we need to be? 

What is the specific change you want

to accom

 plish now? 

-What is the root cause(s) of the

 problem? 

- 

What is your proposedcountermeasure(s)?

What activities will be required for

implementation and who will be

responsible for what and when? 

How we will know if the actions have

the impact needed? What remaining

issues can be anticipated? 

Verble/Shook 

What’s the problem?

8/18/2019 A3 Thinking - Template

2/3

Title: What you are talking about

Background

Current Conditions

Target#Goal$s%

Analysis

Pro"osed Countermeasure$s%

Plan

Follou"

Why you are talking about it.

  - What is the business reason for choosing this issue? 

Where things stand today.

  - Whats the problem with that! with where we stand? 

  - What is the actual symptom that the business feels that

requires action? 

"how visually # pareto charts! graphs! drawings! maps! etc.

The s"eci&ic outcome re'uired &or the business.

  - What is the specific change you want to accomplish now.? 

  - How will you measure success?

The root cause$s% o& the "roblem.

  - Why are we e$periencing the symptom? 

  - What constraints prevent us from the goal? 

Choose the sim"lest "roblem!sol(ing tool &or this issue:

  - %ive whys

  - %ishbone

  - &' ools  - "'! "i$ "igma! "hainen! *epner raego! others+

 )our "ro"osal to reach the &uture state* the target condition.

  - What alternatives could be considered? 

  - How will you choose among the options? What decisioncriteria?

+o your recommended countermeasures ill im"act the

root cause to change the current situation and achie(e the

target.

 , antt chart or facsimile that shows actionsoutcomes!

timeline and responsibilities. /ay include details on the

specific means of implementation.

- Who will do what! when and how? 

0ndicators of performance! of progress.

- How will we know if the actions have the impact needed? 

  - What are the critical few! visual! most natural measures? 

1emaining issues that can be anticipated.

  - ,ny failure modes to watch out for? ,ny unintended

consequences? 

2nsure ongoing -3-'-,. 4okoten as needed.

Ownerinitials

8/18/2019 A3 Thinking - Template

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 Title

Reason for choosing issue:

Brief 

One or two bullets

Analysis

Visual

ChartsQC Tools

Fishbone

5 WhysCurrent Conditions

u!!ary

Visual

"a#$

%areto$

%roble! tate!ent &

what's the actual

#ain(sy!#to! being felt$ )ustthe facts

Counter!easure O#tions

*+ $$

,+ $$$

-oal(Target Condition

Brief 

One or two bullets

./aluation of O#tions

Criteria

,+

Name:

Coach: