The Fact-Net Model: A Problem Diagnosis Procedure

Solving the wrong problem, or type 3 error, is often what separates the effective from the ineffective management scientist. Management scientists commit type 3 errors because they lack formal training in problem identification techniques. There are logical and rational problem identification approaches for diagnosing operational, managerial, and strategic problems. The fact-net model, a diagnostic procedure developed by the authors, is applied to a real-world, unstructured operational problem along with two other currently used methods, and the three methods are compared.