Chapter Three

Diagnose your problem

Chapters 1 and 2 showed how to summarise a complex problem in a Hero-Treasure-Dragon-Quest (HTDQ) sequence. As part of the process, the Watson rule advised you to check all assumptions in your HTDQ sequence. Following Watson is usually non-trivial, as it often requires uncovering the root causes of your problem – or diagnosing it. Let’s look at how to do that.

A loop diagram depicts FrED. The steps are: frame, what's my problem; explore, how may I solve my problem; decide, how should I solve my problem. The frame finds a quest, diagnose, and update the quest. Diagnose and update the quest are in bold.

Misdiagnosing engine troubles on BD 0921

On 8 January, 1989, BD 092 – a Boeing 737-400 operated by British Midland – was en route from London Heathrow ...

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