Lead
A3 Thinking
A one-page way to lay out a problem, its causes, fixes and plan, so the logic can be discussed.
What is A3 Thinking?
A one-page way to lay out a problem, its causes, fixes and plan, so the logic can be discussed.
What you learn
Every fix must connect back to the gap you observed.
When it helps
an improvement needs agreement, or proposed fixes don’t seem to fit the problem.
Use it at work
- Write the problem, current state and target on one page.
- Show the root cause, with evidence.
- List fixes, each linked to the cause.
- Add a plan, owners, and how you’ll check the result.
Your output
For your next improvement, write the problem, the current state, the target and the root cause on one page. Check that every fix links to the cause.
Watch for
Proposing favorite fixes that don’t address the observed problem.
Related practices
Sources
Enable JavaScript to try the interactive activity.