Root Cause Tip: Anyone Can Do The Job! Or Can They?
Caution
Training Corrective Actions will not fix everything but when it does make sure you do it right.
When we analyze an action or inaction that caused a problem, failed to catch/stop the problem that was occurring or caused the problem to get worse after it occurred, the TapRooT® Root Cause Process has us ask questions focusing “on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the person performing the task?” If we say “yes” to any of the questions, the process then asks, “Should the person have had better training to understand the task, develop the skill needed, or maintain the knowledge and skills needed to successfully complete the task?”
Warning
Please don’t cheat the TapRooT® Root Cause Process by answering the above questions without full understanding of the person or task.
The key to fully understanding the issue of training is to identify the task first. Next you must identify the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform the task. Easier said than done if you have never truly looked at a task in this manner.
Task – A task can be one action or a sequence of actions that a person must successfully complete in order to produce a required output.
Knowledge is the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. You can read a book on how to drive a car, but that in itself doesn’t equate to having the skill or ability to drive a car. You need to have the knowledge, however, to build your skills on. Sometimes you have to perform a new task with no experience and just basic knowledge. You are taught to turn into a skid while driving but have you ever done it?
Skills are the proficiencies developed through training or experience. Skills must be learned, by experience or through formal training. You practice driving a car under supervision, get licensed and then continue improving your skills over time. When you hire someone to drive a car, how do you know he/she can? Do you test them or just depend on a license requirement?
Abilities are the qualities of being able to do something. There is a fine line between skills and abilities. Skills require certain physical abilities or mental abilities. For example, depth perception is a must to drive safely in certain situations. You need the ability to add, divide and multiply to properly calculate how much gas is needed for a cross country trip. Do you assess for physical and mental task capabilities for particular positions for certain critical tasks?
Here is a challenge to our TapRooT® Root Cause Blog Readers….
- Identify one task that you perform daily and list the steps.
- Identify and write down the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities that you must have and use to perform the task.
For a great example of core tasks and skills needed, go to this CFETP link for my old aircraft job.
It takes a little more work to assess the true need for training than most people imagine. Remember this blog challenge when you do your next problem analysis.
This article gave the blog reader a little knowledge for the task of analyzing a task and a possible training issues tied to training. To get hands on training and application to build your skills, attend our 5-Day TapRooT® Advanced Root Cause Analysis Team Leader Training Course to learn more about ADDIE, CHAP (Critical Human Action Profile) and errors made due to knowledge, skill or ability deficiencies. Plus learn how to correct and prevent these type of issues.
Abilities Required to attend the course: reading, writing and a passion to make the world around you better and safer.
