IPPS supports specific recognised standards in how problems are resolved. These principles and high-level standards are agreed by Senior Managers in various industries and disciplines across the globe:

1. For multiple problems, the problem solver will identify “cause and effect” relationships and will then pinpoint the core issues represented in the problem situation.

2. Resolving a complex multi-tiered problem will have adaptive and corrective actions to provide a complete solution.

3. Information gathering will be done based on the Divergent/Convergent thinking model.

4. When a problem situation is experienced, the problem solver will endeavor to find the cause first before taking action. The professional problem solver will always ask “Why?”

5. Every incident or problem will have both a technical cause and a root cause. You need to first establish the technical cause before you are be able to identify the correct root cause(s).

6. Identifying the most appropriate stakeholders and information sources will always precede information gathering.

7. Identifying the most specific object and most specific fault will come at the start of the technical cause analysis.

8. Specifying the detail of the incident/problem/solution will be based on factual information arranged in a factor analysis framework.

9. Hypotheses will be tested on paper before any actions are implemented.

10. Any decision to be taken will be preceded by a proper stakeholder analysis.

11. Evaluation of options/action and alternatives will be systematically screened against the solution or decision requirements.

12. Before a decision is implemented, risks for implementation will be considered.

13. Risk analysis will be based upon the relationship between risks and likely causes of that risk.

14. All analyses will be rounded off with an appropriate action plan to implement the next step actions.

15. All actions to be taken will be screened against the original objective of the problem-solving exercise.