Mind Tools E-book
	The key tools on the Mind Tools site, brought together into one easily downloadable, easily printable PDF. More>>

CATWOE

Understanding the different elements that contribute to a problem

What do you do when you're faced with a really big business problem? (Maybe your employee retention is low, and you are looking for the reasons why.) Perhaps your first step is to brainstorm the possible reasons, and maybe then you apply a range of different problem-solving skills. But what if you've focused on the wrong problem, or you're just looking at a symptom of a larger problem?

By focusing on one specific problem, you tend to stop looking for other problems. And that's when you risk missing something that's potentially more fundamental than the problem you first decided to investigate. This is where CATWOE can help you avoid making a serious mistake.

Understanding CATWOE

In the 1960s Peter Checkland, a systems engineering professor, developed a problem-solving methodology called Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), which sought to apply systems principles to business and other "soft" problems.

SSM conceptualises the activities or business being examined as a system, the essence of which is encapsulated in a "Root Definition".

In 1975, David Smyth, a researcher in Checkland's department, observed that SSM was most successful when the Root Definition included certain elements. These elements, remembered by the mnemonic CATWOE, identified the people, processes and environment that contribute to a situation, issue, or problem that you need to analyze.

CATWOE stands for...(Sign in to read more.)

Full text of this article is available to members of the Mind Tools Career Excellence Club. If you're a member, please click here for full text, or sign in below.

Member Sign In: Username: Password: If you're not yet a member, take our FREE tour, and find out how much you get.       Membership has its benefits Take our free tour to find out how to get everything you need to put yourself on the fast-track to life and career success: Comprehensive management and career training with our Full Toolkit of more than 450 career-enhancing skill-builder articles, and more than 50 downloadable Bite-Sized Training packs, teaching you key new skills in focused one-hour sessions. Regular career-success coaching in our Coaching Clinics, helping you explore career issues and build the mindset and motivation you need for lasting success. Completely up-to-date knowledge of the latest ideas with our MP3-based Book Insights(with downloadable transcripts), reviewing recent management and career books in detail. In-depth exploration of career issues in our in-depth, MP3-based Expert Interviews with leading career and management experts, helping you make the most of your opportunities and stay abreast of leading-edge career and management thinking. Your personal, unique, global community of excellence, in which you'll join thousands of like-minded professionals. Learn from their experience, find out what's worked for them and get help when you need it. Help and support from the Mind Tools team, totally focused on helping you make the very most of your life and career – wherever you are in the world. All this, for an introductory fee of US$1 for the first month, and a low monthly subscription! (You can cancel at any time.) Click here for our free tour! >>

Where to go from here:		Join Mind Tools		Free Newsletter
		Download & Print		Next Article

New Articles (Not included in the Mind Tools E-book.)
* Shows articles available in full only to Career Excellence Club members

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Spotting problems early on*
TRIZ - A powerful methodology for creative problem-solving
The Straw Man Concept - Build it up, knock it down, create a solid final solution
Heuristic Methods - Using rules of thumb*
Writing a Procedure - Making sure things are done without mistakes and omissions
Swim Lane Diagrams - Mapping and improving organizational processes*
5 Whys - Getting quickly to the root of a problem
Root Cause Analysis - Tracing a problem to its origins
Using Aides Memoire - Remember everything that's important*
Inductive Reasoning - Drawing good generalized conclusions*
Avoiding Logical Fallacies - What they are, and how to avoid them*

A full list of Mind Tools articles is available here.

return to top

Learn to manage the stress in your life with our sister site, stress.mindtools.com.

Mind Tools Store: Mind Tools Ebook, Make Time for Success
 Stress Management Masterclass, How to Lead
 Relaxation MP3s

© Mind Tools Ltd, 1995-2009, All Rights Reserved

For requests to reprint or reproduce material from this site, please contact our Permissions Center.

Store · Search · Newsletter · Downloads · Advertisers · Affiliates

MindTools.com is one of the Internet's most-visited career skills resources.
Click here to see analysis.