The W5H model for decision-making has three stages. The first stage is the alert stage, the second stage is the analysis stage, and the third stage is the action stage. Using this model for decision-making can be very beneficial in a work environment that uses teams. Each stage in the decision making process is critical, and having a good decision making model can save both time and money for a company.
            
             In the first stage the problem is identified. It is important in this stage to identify exactly what the problem is. At my place of work, for example, I have to constantly gauge parts to make sure they are within specification. I have to gauge every 3rd or 4th part to make sure the parts are running correctly. When a part gauges bad I have to alert my team member to the problem immediately. By quickly identifying the exact problem we can move on to the next step in the decision-making process, which is the analysis stage. The second stage, which is called the analysis stage, contains the W5H formula. This formula is made of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? And How? At this point these questions are answered in order to analyze the problem thoroughly. By doing this a team or individual can discover many things that could potentially be overlooked by being too hasty. We also use this step where I work. The parts can either be too big or too small. I have to determine and relate to my partner whether the part is too big or too small, and which gauge it is reading bad on. Each gauge has a different offset that has to be put into the computer in order to move the tool in or out depending on whether the parts are running too big or too small. Thus, I have to tell him What? gauge the part is reading bad on. That determines Where? on the part the offset has to be made for. I also have to go back over the parts that ran before the bad part to determine When? the parts starting going bad and How? Man...