"If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail" - Abraham Maslow

When I work with clients, I tend to use a lot of tools.  I have tools to assess innovation maturity.  I have tools to lead a root cause analysis.  I have tools to do customer interviews.  I have tools to facilitate an idea generation session.  You get it...I have a lot of tools.  And that is to specifically avoid the situation that Mr. Maslow describes above. 

Many times...my counterparts on the Lean/SixSig side rely far too heavily on their specific tools.  They won't even consider some the "softer" and qualitative tools used on the CPS/Innovation side of the tracks.  Honestly, I use a broad spectrum of tools from an even broader spectrum of thought disciplines.  I'll even use a tool for an unintended purpose!  GASP!

A couple of years ago I pulled together a slide deck that walked through the tools I use for problem solving that include the best-in-breed from the CPS arena and from the SixSig/Lean arena.  Hope these help!


Remember...use the right tool for the job...regardless of where it came from or whether or not it is "approved" for this particular use.