Step 1 - Situation Analysis

Step 1 - Situation Analysis - Beef CRC - Beef Genetic Technologies

Why do a situation analysis? We rarely start with a ‘blank slate’ when we take on an improvement focus. This is especially the case in a business situation where there will be a range of practices, processes, systems and technologies already in place. When you target improvement in a particular area, it is useful to look at the current situation in relation to your Focus, to see if you can identify opportunities to improve or replace our current practices, processes, systems and technologies. The tools listed below can help you undertake your situation analysis.

System design and analysis tool

For effective system analysis it is necessary to design the system that will achieve the target outcomes. This involves identifying the set and sequence of elements and interactions between them that are needed to achieve the outcomes. Equipped with the design of an effective system it is easy to analyse current systems for opportunities to improve and innovate.

Click here to download the System design and analysis tool

Why-Why diagram

The purpose of Why-Why Diagrams are to enable individuals and groups to creatively explore and consider numerous causes of a problem (or needs for an opportunity).

Click here to download the Why-Why diagram

Brainstorming

Brainstorming was designed by Alex Osborn in the 1930's. It enables individuals and teams to generate, in a relatively rapid time period, creative ideas and opportunities about how to achieve a desired outcome. Brainstorming enables people to:

Put inhibitions and rules aside with the aim of generating new ideas Generate a large number of ideas regardless of their initial worth Create new ideas by suspending judgment Develop an optimal state of mind for generating new ideas In some situations it may be useful to do “inverse”/“negative” brainstorming e.g. brainstorming ideas about how not to achieve improvements in profit.

Click here to download the brainstorming tool.

Local best practices

A practice is a set and sequence of actions to achieve specific outputs or outcomes. The Local Best Practices (LBP) Tool can be used to enable individuals and teams to analyse current practices and design best and better practices. Using the tool you can:

Design effective practices to achieve target outcomes and then compare them to current practices, thereby establishing benchmarks and identifying opportunities for better practices Or, if no current practices exist, you can use this tool to design best practices and then manage the implementation of these practices.

Click here to download the Local Best Practices tool.

Process design and analysis tool

The Process Design and Analysis Tool has two uses. The first use is in Situation Analysis where it is used to analyse situations to find opportunities to improve processes. It can also be used to design and manage new processes – but then it is really being used as a Process Design and Management Tool.

(Support should be sought from a person who has significant experience in using the Process Design and Analysis Tool if you are using it for the first time yourself, or are attempting to help others use it.)

Click here to download the Process design and analysis tool.

Repetitive Why technique

The question ‘Why?’ can be a powerful ‘problem finding’ technique especially if asked at least five to six times repetitively. Using only the ‘Why?’ question can enable people to get closer to the cause of symptoms, or the ‘problem-behind-the-problem’.

Click here to download the repetitive why technique tool.

Specialist questioning technique

Specialist input can be obtained by numerous methods. The Specialist Questioning Technique is an innovative way for Beef Profit Partnerships (BPP) partners and teams to engage effectively with specialists in relation to achieving improvements in profit.

Click here to download the specialist questioning technique tool.

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