We are solving the same problems repeatedly during IDS®. How do we find the real issue behind the issue?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Solving the same issues repeatedly is a sign that you are treating symptoms rather than root causes. When teams sit down to IDS®, which stands for Identify, Discuss, and Solve, they often rush the Identify step. They spend ninety percent of their time discussing a surface-level complaint and then agree on a weak solution that does not stick. To get to the issue behind the issue, you must spend the majority of your time in the Identify phase. Do not let the team jump into problem-solving mode the moment an issue is read aloud. Instead, ask the person who raised the issue to explain it in one sentence. Then, ask why that is happening. Keep asking why until you find the structural or human failure underneath. For example, a late report is rarely just about a busy employee. It is usually a symptom of a broken process, a lack of training, or a seat mismatch on the Accountability Chart. You will know you have identified the real issue when the conversation shifts from complaining about people to analyzing systems. Once you have the real issue on the table, the Discuss phase should be short and direct. The Solve phase then becomes a simple, actionable To-Do that permanently eliminates the problem.