"GIGO" or "QIQO"?
When management does not act on a recommendation, one reason may be that decision-makers do not have enough relevant information to make an informed decision.
You may have heard the expression "garbage in, garbage out" (GIGO). Poor-quality information can lead to poor-quality decisions. The opposite is also true: "quality in, quality out" (QIQO). Providing accurate, relevant, and complete information helps management make better decisions about corrective actions and system improvements.
Six Key Questions
A strong recommendation should give decision-makers enough information to understand the problem, evaluate possible solutions, and determine the benefits of taking action. Use the following six questions when developing and presenting recommendations.
1. What exactly is the problem?
- What hazardous conditions or unsafe work practices contributed to the incident?
- What underlying weaknesses in policies, programs, processes, procedures, training, supervision, or other parts of the safety management system allowed them to develop or continue?
2. What is the history of the problem?
Past experience can help demonstrate the significance of the problem and the need for corrective action.
- Have similar incidents, injuries, near misses, or hazards occurred before?
- How frequently have they occurred?
- What corrective actions were previously taken?
- What direct and indirect costs resulted?
- How were operations, productivity, or employees affected?
A history of similar events may also indicate that previous corrective actions did not adequately address the underlying causes.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-6. How does the GIGO principle apply when developing corrective-action recommendations?
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