Planning, Collecting, and Classifying Data

define

Establish baseline performance metrics and clarify problems

measure

Quantify current process performance and variations

analyse

Identify root cause through pattern and trend analysis

improve

Validate solution effectiveness with before and after data

control

Monitor ongoing performance to sustain gains

Nominal data

represents categories without any order

Ordinal data

involves categories with a specific order or ranking

Interval data

uses numeric scales with equal intervals between values with no true 0 point

Ratio data

includes numeric scales with a meaningful 0 point, allowing comparisons of absolute magnitude

Nominal data tools

simple tools like bar and pie charts

Ordinal data tools

stacked bar charts and run charts

Interval and ratio data tools

more detailed tools such as histograms

in person surveys use

for direct interactions

Phone surveys use

for a personal touch with time constraints

online surveys use

to reach audiences quickly at lower cost

mail surveys use

Access nondigital audiences for thoughtful responses

mail surveys use

how to design effective surveys

clear questions, arrange from general to specific topics, group related questions, keep concise, focus on essential questions, and design to respect time

when to use surveys

for large samples, when quantifiable data is needed, exploring complex topics, clarifying ambiguous topics, and to measure satisfaction and feedback

When to use interviews

Gathering info beyond numbers, capture customer opinions, identify pain points, explore root causes, and understand complex processes

Purpose of check sheets

Collect/organize data, track & record issues & defects, recognize patterns, and count frequencies