The Current
Reality Tree (CRT)
The CRT is a cause-and-effect diagram that identifies root
causes of problems and tells us “what to change?”
It begins with an exploration of the “undesirable
effects” (UDEs) being felt in the organisation. It
then works backwards to identify the root causes, or one
core problem, which generate all of these UDEs. Changing
the one core problem - the constraint - is the simplest
and most effective way of treating many UDEs, resulting
in the greatest benefit to the system.
The Evaporating Cloud (EC)
The EC (sometimes referred to as the Conflict Resolution Diagram,
or CRD) tackles the question of “what to change
to?”
| The root causes identified using the CRT
usually exist for a reason: |
 |
Habit - “we have always done it
that way” or |
|
Incorrect assumptions |
Using the Evaporating Cloud, these assumptions and habits
are examined and breakthrough solutions are discovered.
The Future Reality Tree (FRT)
The FRT further addresses the question, “what to
change to?” so that:
|
the organisation does not ‘jump
out of the frying pan into the fire’ |
|
steps can be taken to pre-empt any potential pitfalls |
Building of the FRT, using cause-and-effect logic, reduces
the risks associated with the change process by testing
the effectiveness of the proposed solution before any time,
energy and money is invested.
The Prerequisite Tree (PRT)
The PRT addresses the question, “how to make
the change happen?”
Once a course of action has been formulated (using the
CRT and the EC) and verified (using the FRT), the Prerequisite
Tree is developed to help implement the plan.
A table of intermediate objectives, on the way to the solution,
is constructed:
|
The obstacles that might get in the way
of the change process are identified |
|
The best way to overcome each obstacle is determined
|
This indicates the necessary sequencing of the major milestones
in the change process. Thus, the PRT is the basis of the
strategic plan for the implementation of the solution.
The Transition Tree (TT)
The TT further details the answers to the question, “how
to make the change happen?”
The detailed step-by-step instructions for implementing
each activity of the action plan, that is, the specific
tasks, responsibilities, timing, dependencies and outcomes,
are developed and mapped out.
|
