The Ultimate Goal

Having identified the stakeholders in your process and developed the process maps and the value stream maps we are now ready to take the next step. We can begin to a handle on our problem solutions. The tools we use for this purpose is the Dettmer’s Goal Tree and the Problem Resolution Worksheet. Both tools clearly lay out a roadmap.

?The Goal Tree

The Goal Tree requires you systematically review the problem. It begins with looking at the Goal/Problem Statement or your anticipated solutions. It not only asks you what the intended solutions are, but it asks you to take the search a step further. Once you have established the objective you must then take the next step and determine what must be present for you achieve that goal. These represent the critical success factors, which without their presence you can’t reach that goal.

The critical success factors section of the Goal Tree asks you to determine the three factors, which you must have in place to consider that you have the right solution. It poses the question that to reach the solution I must have the critical success factors in place. It is critical that you carry your identification of these three factors to the widest audience possible. Like the goal statement the first factors that may come to mind may not be the best possible concepts.

The Goal Tree then moves down the hierarchy to the next level. It is in this factor that you ask yourself further questions regarding the process. Follow me here a bit.?

You began the completion of the Goal Tree by asking the question, what is the solution for the problem at hand? Then your next question is what is the critical success factors, which will indicate that we have reached that goal? These are the factors that must be there for us to reach that goal. This is not the end of the process, however.

Think of it in this fashion. To have (goal) I must have (critical success factors. To create the critical success factors, I must have (necessary conditions).?

If you know what the goal is and you know what critical success factors equal success, what must be present to reach that level. Consider once again the recruitment process. Our goal is to provide the organization with the human capital assets that will enhance the output of the organization in the form of products and services. If I am correct in this goal, then what are the necessary critical success factors? I would suggest that they are the location of the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

To show the relationship in the goal tree we create an upward point arrow from each block. Thus, the necessary conditions must be present to achieve the critical success factors and these factors must be present to reach our goal.

The Problem Resolution Worksheet

To produce the problem resolution worksheet just reverse the arrow direction. You have identified the problem. You know what is upsetting your customers. With that in mind we ask why they are upset. The reason replaces the critical success factors. The next question becomes why those conditions are present that are causing the causes to exist.

The Goal Tree and the Problem Resolution worksheet are logically thinking based tools that will assist us in resolving the system constraints that are facing your organization.

About the author:?Daniel Bloom?knows HR and Change Management. He’s a speaker on transformational HR, a strategic HR consultant and trainer. He is certified as both a Senior Professional in HR and as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Dan has written 6 books, more than 40 articles and has been in the HR social media space since 2006. Dan is currently the CEO and Change Maestro of?Daniel Bloom & Associates Inc., where?he helps organizations empower organizational change within their organizations.