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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 6:05 am
While CompTIA's methodology applies specifically to IT, other troubleshooting methods take a more generalized approach.
Six Sigma , for example, is a collection of different tools and techniques designed to minimize errors and improve quality in manufacturing. Today, companies of all types use Six Sigma to optimize their processes.
DMAIC is a Six Sigma project methodology that can be useful as a problem-solving checklist:
Define: Accurately describe the problem
Measure. Collect data to establish a baseline.
Analyze. Review the data to verify the root cause and its effect.
Improve. Identify, test, and implement a solution.
Control. Apply the changes to ensure they are permanent.
While data collection is implicit in traditional troubleshooting techniques, one of the advantages of DMAIC is that it explicitly includes a data collection step. Whatever type of sales problem or error you're nurse database troubleshooting, you'll get better results if you take the time to gather information rather than relying on hunches or guesses.
Complete guide to the tools and technologies that sellers should use
Finding the root cause
To effectively solve a problem, you must understand the difference between correlation and causation. It's easy to fall into the trap of assuming that two events that occur simultaneously or in a sequence of steps are directly related.
For example, you might notice that sales decrease whenever a particular team member is on vacation, so you conclude that their absence is causing the decline.
However, critical thinking demands that you look more deeply. Could it be that this individual tends to take their vacations during typically slow periods, perhaps due to seasonal fluctuations or competitor promotions?
For many of the sales-based problems you're trying to solve, your CRM system contains a wealth of relevant data. It can help you identify the root cause of the problem and validate its solution.
Six Sigma , for example, is a collection of different tools and techniques designed to minimize errors and improve quality in manufacturing. Today, companies of all types use Six Sigma to optimize their processes.
DMAIC is a Six Sigma project methodology that can be useful as a problem-solving checklist:
Define: Accurately describe the problem
Measure. Collect data to establish a baseline.
Analyze. Review the data to verify the root cause and its effect.
Improve. Identify, test, and implement a solution.
Control. Apply the changes to ensure they are permanent.
While data collection is implicit in traditional troubleshooting techniques, one of the advantages of DMAIC is that it explicitly includes a data collection step. Whatever type of sales problem or error you're nurse database troubleshooting, you'll get better results if you take the time to gather information rather than relying on hunches or guesses.
Complete guide to the tools and technologies that sellers should use
Finding the root cause
To effectively solve a problem, you must understand the difference between correlation and causation. It's easy to fall into the trap of assuming that two events that occur simultaneously or in a sequence of steps are directly related.
For example, you might notice that sales decrease whenever a particular team member is on vacation, so you conclude that their absence is causing the decline.
However, critical thinking demands that you look more deeply. Could it be that this individual tends to take their vacations during typically slow periods, perhaps due to seasonal fluctuations or competitor promotions?
For many of the sales-based problems you're trying to solve, your CRM system contains a wealth of relevant data. It can help you identify the root cause of the problem and validate its solution.