Shown above is cover of:
Apollo Root Cause Analysis: A New Way of Thinking
This book is just one of several titles in the category Root Cause Analysis. More titles like this book may be found here.
by: Dean L. Gano, Dean Gano, Vicki E. Lee (Editor), Wendy C. Mitchell (Illustrator)
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Bill Readdy, NASA Astronaut
I enjoyed reading your book. I was impressed with the simplicty of the methodolgy.
Jack Knight; NASA Mgr.
Overall, the book is one of the best practical essays on the subject (of problem solving) I have seen.
Ted Bennett, Dow Chem.
This has had a significant impact on our approach to problem solving here at Dow Chemical.
Book Description
Apollo Root Cause Analysis is about effective problem solving. It is truly a new way of thinking that will ensure effective solutions to almost any kind of problem. Discover new communications tools that are revolutionizing the way people all around the world think, communicate, and make decisions together. This is a life-changing book that will enable people and organizations to effectively communicate and solve problems without the usual conflicts. This is a unique event-based problem solving method utilized by many Fortune 500 companies, NASA, and the FAA. There is no other problem solving process like this. In this book readers will learn more about the cause and effect principle than has ever been documented before. They will also learn why 70% to 80% of the general population are ineffective problem solvers and why conventional problem solving methods don't work. The number one skill every employer wants in an employee is good problem solving skills, yet problem solving is not taught in school. Apollo Root Cause Analysis and its supporting software, RealityChartingTM makes everyone a skilled problem solver.
About the Author
Dean L. Gano is a student of the human condition and in particular human problem solving. He has spent 33 years working in various process industries, electric generating plants and computer software development. He has performed hundreds of incident investigations and taught his unique brand of problem solving to over 50,000 people throughout the world. Mr. Gano holds bachelor of science degrees in mechanical engineering and general science, is a formerly certified nuclear reactor operator, and a Vietnam veteran. He is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the American Society for Quality. He is a philosopher who finds great happiness in learning and helping others become more successful in their life pursuits.
Reviews:
A unique approach
Apollo is the name given by the author to his unique approach to root cause analysis. I'm assuming this (Apollo) explains why there is a naked man on the cover, either that or this is the most unique author photo I have ever seen. The book focuses on causal relationships, emphasizing that there are often many causes (factors) contributing to an undesirable outcome. The author's insights on casual relationships and human behavior are extraordinary, it is obvious he is passionate about this topic and has had extensive experience with it. In addition to explaining " A new way of thinking", the author details specific tools (his own version of a cause-and-effect chart) that are the core of the Apollo method. And just when I started thinking that it would be great if there was software available to do this, he mentions that he has such a product available.
There were a few things I didn't like about the book. In fact, after receiving the book, the combination of the naked dude on the cover (which still creeps me out) and the opening paragraph in the "How to read this book" section which you just have to say "Duh!" to, almost convinced me to not read the book at all. In addition, the branding of "Apollo" throughout the book ( frequent references to "the Apollo method", "the Apollo process", "Apollo tools") made some sections read like scripts from an infomercial. These are minor gripes though, and I'm glad I got by them and took the time to read this excellent book
I teach root cause analysis and have been a practicing failure analyst for nearly 15 years. I've had the priviledge of working with some very expert people in this field. Dean Gano does a great job taking what can be a very confusing and intimidating task and making it clear and understandable.
Dean Gano has been honing his craft for many years and is well respected in the failure analysis community. The only criticism I have is that the process is more geared to providing supporting evidence for possible causes of events. There needs to be more discussion of the need for refuting evidence.
Cause analysis at its best is a structured application of scientific principles (referred to as the scientific method). What the scientific method requires is that you pose a hypothesis (a possible explanation for what has happened) and then gather evidence to support or refute the hypothesis.
I recommend that anyone interested in a better understanding of how refuting evidence is used read "The Rational Manager" by Chuck Kepner and Ben Tregoe. It's the foundational work that provides a complete solution for resolving concerns (problems, decisions, etc). The "Rational Manager" has you break things down and deal with them separately. Dean Gano's book helps you see the larger picture. The other book I use as required reading for our root cause analysts is "Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents" by James Reason. Together, these three references will help you to significantly improve your ability to resolve problems and will be the three books you will refer to over and over again.
Excellent for doing Med Error Root Cause Analysis...
Read several books and this seems to get to the heart of the matter in the least amount of time. Book is well written, to the point and will get you going within 24 hours.
Maximum Leverage of Cause and Effect...
Dean Gano presents the most comprehensive philosophy towards problem solving that I have ever encountered. He sheds the first light on classic problem solving snafus such as story-telling, our failure to identify conditional causes, and why categorization schemes will always lead us away from creative solutions. Gano has identified the common thread that is inherent in all problems (the principle of cause and effect) and provides the reader with a comprehensive tool that allows effective solutions to be created for any problem, from minor incident to catastrophic failure. This is a great book for anyone who is serious about preventing recurrence and jumpstarting process improvement. A word of warning...organizations and individuals that rely on old-school office politics and strong-arm tactics as problem solving strategies beware! Gano is the first to install power into the concept of empowerment.
Good Presentation of Yet Another RCA Method
This was a good-great book for the Apollo method but as one who has read a lot of these types of books, e.g., TQM, I found the sales pitch a little strong. The explanations were excellent with a step-by-step development, but I see nothing special here. Almost any RCA book will provide similar material. An alternative to this book could be: "Root Cause Analysis A tool for total quality management," or "Quality Improvement Toos and Techniques." The later is an excellent overview of the methods available for investigating problems --- and it is fairly inexpensive. I recommend Dean Gano's book if the Apollo RCA is your flavor.
A "Must Read" for anyone investigating failure incidents
After several years of pumping equipment failure analysis engineering, this is by far the best book I've read about the failure analysis and problem solving process. Dean Gano's approach covers the full spectrum of associated issues in a very efficient and flexible manner. He challenges a lot of failure analysis "conventional wisdom" in a very convincing manner, truly creating "a new way of thinking" that should greatly improve failure solutions.