Use the Right Tree: Diagnostic or Solution
Distinguish diagnostic issue trees from solution issue trees and choose the right one.
A why-tree and a how-tree are both useful; the mistake is pretending they are the same tree. Name the parent question The parent question is the container for the analysis. If it asks why a metric moved, the branches should be possible causes. If it asks what to do, the branches should be possible actions. Mixing those two questions creates overlap and solution jumping. Build MECE-enough branches MECE is a practical quality bar: no material overlap and no obvious missing branch for the decision at hand. You can use definitions, placement rules, or a different first split when examples fit…
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