PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE
TRAINING IN
The Problem-Solving Process for
North Central State College
Mansfield, Ohio
October 19, 2005
Submitted by:
____________________________
Jay McCreary
Date:
______10/19/2005________
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PROPOSAL BACKGROUND:
McCreary Consulting has been providing training and consulting services to businesses since 1989 in the areas of facilitation, strategic planning, total quality management, learning theories, management development, team building, leadership, creative thinking, problem solving, and brain dominance. Jay
McCreary, principal of McCreary Consulting, is a certified Achieve Global, DDI and Inscape facilitator and is a member of the Vision Point Elite Training Team.
Jay has worked at Marion Technical College for 30 years and has been the main liaison with business and industry since 1983. During that time, Jay has designed and conducted many training programs to college customers in the same areas as his consulting business. He has conducted problem-solving training to personal and college customers such as General Motors Corporation,
Whirlpool Corporation, Dana Corporation, Eaton Corporation, Marion Steel
Company and Kable Fulfillment Corporation.
In addition, Jay has been actively involved in the accreditation process at Marion
Technical College and has facilitated strategic planning sessions for Marion
Technical College, The Ohio Department of Education, The Ohio Department of
Health, The Ohio Health Commissioner
’s Association, The Ohio Fire Chief’s
Association, the Delaware General Health District and the Hamilton County
Health District.
Most recently, Jay facilitated two sessions at North Central State College to help provide direction with the AQIP process.
PROPOSAL:
McCreary Consulting proposes to provide training in The Problem-Solving
Process to members of the Achieving the Dream Core, Communications and
Data Teams, the President’s Staff, and the AQIP Steering Committee. The goal of the training will be to help participants identify when and how to use a systematic problem-solving process to enhance the continuous improvement processes vital to the AQIP process and realize the goals of Achieving the
Dream.
This training will consist of a minimum of two four-hour sessions. These sessions will be experience-based focusing on utilizing the problem-solving skills in real-world applications. The format of the training will be centered around
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group activities focused on each of the seven steps to problem-solving supplemented with PowerPoint Slides and guided discussion.
While the original Request for Training Proposal suggested two four-hour sessions, this may not be enough to complete the assignments. Since this process will result in developing implementation solutions for real issues at North
Central State College, an additional follow-up session or sessions may be required to complete the assignments and realize the full benefit of the training.
This training typically is conducted for 12 to 21 hours, depending upon the complexity of the issues involved.
It is recommended that the process begin with the original two four-hour sessions spaced sufficiently apart to allow for adequate data collection. If additional sessions are needed after the original two, this can be accomplished on an asneeded basis.
Training Description: This program provides a seven-step problem solving process that gives participants clear guidelines to follow as they analyze problems and seek solutions. Participants will learn specific problem solving tools and techniques designed to give a clear understanding of the problem and identify workable solutions. As a result, participants will be able to use this problem solving method to solve a real problem and make improvements in their work.
Training Objectives:
1. Understand a systematic model to solve problems based upon Deming’s Plan,
Do, Check, Act Cycle.
2. Write a clear problem statement.
3. Use at least two different expansion and organizing techniques to identify potential causes of a problem.
4. Use at least two different data analysis techniques to identify the root cause of a problem.
5. Develop a rationale for choosing the best solution.
6. Develop an action plan for implementation.
7. Develop an evaluation plan for continuous improvement.
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Training Outline:
Session I (4 hours) Introduction
The Basic Problem Solving Process
Basic Tools and Techniques for Problem Identification
Selecting the Problem
Writing a Problem Statement
Techniques for Identifying Probable Causes
Identifying Data to be collected
Identifying Where and How to Collect the Data
Identifying a Timetable for Data Collection
Session II (4hours) Organization of Data
Statistical Techniques for Data Analysis
Root Cause Analysis and Identification
Techniques for Identifying Probable Solutions
Determination of the Best Solution
Developing Action Plans for Implementation
Developing a Plan for Evaluation
Training Materials:
Jay McCreary will utilize materials from Continuous Improvement Planning for
Administrators and Teachers by Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., Solving
Problems: The Basic Process and Solving Problems: Tools and Techniques by
Achieve Global, and The Problem Solving Memory Jogger and The Memory
Jogger II by Goal/QPC.
Each participant will receive The Problem Solving Memory Jogger and The
Memory Jogger II by Goal/QPC plus a handout containing custom designed worksheets for solving problems.
IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAINING PROGRAM:
Implementation of this program will depend upon the availability of Jay McCreary, the principal of McCreary Consulting. In order to minimize the risk of conflicts, a schedule of sessions will be mutually agreed upon between the North Central
State College and McCreary Consulting.
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It is recommended that Jay McCreary meet with the AQIP Steering Committee prior to the training to identify either definitive problem areas or an area for improvement for each of the teams prior to the start of the training program. The participants would be placed in discrete teams during this meeting.
Maximum class size would be 30 participants.
This proposal assumes that all classes will be scheduled to meet at North Central
State College.
There will be no classes held on any day which is a holiday observed by North
Central State College.
In the event weather conditions are such that a class must be canceled, or that
Jay McCreary is ill resulting in a canceled class, North Central State College will be notified at the earliest possible time. Mutually agreeable arrangements will be made to reschedule the class.
A workshop evaluation will be conducted at the end of the scheduled sessions.
DELIVERY OF TRAINING:
McCreary Consulting will provide the instruction, facilitation and training materials and will bill the North Central State College for such costs and related expenses as described in this proposal within 30 days of the completion of the training program.
McCreary Consulting will provide all printed training materials for the course and a certificate of completion for each participant that attends and actively participates in the scheduled sessions. North Central State College will provide a suitable training room, PowerPoint projection capability, flip charts, 4 X 6 post-it notes, markers and other materials mutually agreed upon.
North Central State College should make every effort to insure that each participant is available for the training as scheduled to insure successful completion.
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COSTS:
At McCreary Consulting we believe that the cost of any training or assessment program should be viewed as an investment in the human resources available to the company. The following are costs based upon the original Request for
Training Proposal.
Planning Time with AQIP Steering Committee
Training Facilitation (2 half days)
Materials Expense (@$50 per person X 30)
Travel Expense
$200.00
$1200.00
$1500.00
$104.76
Total $3004.76
Additional training beyond the initial 8 hours would be billed at a rate of $600 per half day plus travel expenses.
PROPOSAL ACCEPTANCE:
Acceptance of this proposal must be in writing on company letterhead and should state either a Purchase Order Number or other identifying numbers for use in billing.
A lead time of four (4) weeks should be allowed from agreement to implementation, although every effort will be made by the McCreary Consulting to reduce this lead time whenever possible.
Terms of this proposal will remain in effect until December 30, 2005.
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