Which of the following six classic problem-solving steps would come last?

Which of the following six classic problem-solving steps would come last?

• A. Define the problem
• B. Identify root causes
• C. Generate solutions
• D. Confirm the results

Answer: (D)

Verifying the outcomes is the final act in problem solving. After you’ve defined the issue, uncovered the root causes, and developed and put a solution into place, the last step is to confirm that the change actually fixed the problem and that the improvements will stick over time. This means collecting post‑implementation data, comparing it to the baseline and to target goals, and checking that the process now performs as intended without creating new issues. If the results meet the expectations, you can standardize the change and document what was learned. If they don’t, you loop back to review the analysis or adjust the solution.

Verifying the outcomes is the final act in problem solving. After you’ve defined the issue, uncovered the root causes, and developed and put a solution into place, the last step is to confirm that the change actually fixed the problem and that the improvements will stick over time. This means collecting post‑implementation data, comparing it to the baseline and to target goals, and checking that the process now performs as intended without creating new issues. If the results meet the expectations, you can standardize the change and document what was learned. If they don’t, you loop back to review the analysis or adjust the solution.