Six Sigma Green Belt – PECB — Lesson 3: Analyze and Improve, Hypotheses, Root Causes, Experiments, Solutions, and Risk

Learning Objectives

• Interpret the requirements, principles, roles, and dependencies shaping analyze and improve, hypotheses, root causes, experiments, solutions, and risk.
• Apply a practical workflow and create a reviewable analysis and solution validation dossier.
• Evaluate the exception where solution pilots change several factors without isolation and determine proportionate follow-up.

Detailed Topics

• Analyze and Improve applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.
• Hypotheses applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.
• Root Causes applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.
• Experiments applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.
• Solutions applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.
• and Risk applied to the course scenario and expected evidence.

Instructor Demonstration

The instructor traces a case involving an operations function improving a high-volume process with recurring defects, delays, capacity constraints, and customer dissatisfaction. The demonstration links decisions to objective evidence, records the result in analysis and solution validation dossier, and tests the condition where solution pilots change several factors without isolation.

Hands-On Exercise

Complete a controlled exercise covering Analyze and Improve, Hypotheses, Root Causes, Experiments, Solutions, and Risk. Confirm scope and responsibilities, examine the stated exception, reach a supported conclusion, and preserve the outcome in analysis and solution validation dossier.

1. Define the objective, boundaries, stakeholders, criteria, and expected work product.
2. Perform the activity while recording assumptions, observations, evidence, and decisions.
3. Test normal operation, the exception, and an escalation or follow-up condition.
4. Document conclusions, owners, deadlines, verification methods, and review triggers.

Scenario Analysis

• Identify the requirement or control with the strongest influence on the scenario outcome.
• Compare two defensible responses and explain their risk, operational, and evidence trade-offs.
• Decide how the analysis and solution validation dossier should be approved, retained, reviewed, and updated.

Troubleshooting Guidance

Start where expected practice and observed evidence first diverge. Separate a missing record from an ineffective process, distinguish unclear ownership from a control failure, and treat “solution pilots change several factors without isolation” as a hypothesis until tested against the applicable criteria and intended outcome.

Validation Checklist

• Scope, roles, criteria, stakeholders, dependencies, and intended outcomes are explicit.
• The analysis and solution validation dossier connects conclusions to objective, reviewable support.
• Normal operation, the stated exception, escalation, and follow-up were evaluated.
• Owners, due dates, verification methods, review triggers, and improvement actions are clear.

Lesson Outcome

Learners can apply Analyze and Improve, Hypotheses, Root Causes, Experiments, Solutions, and Risk, explain the reasoning used, and defend the result through analysis and solution validation dossier.