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:

• For multiple problems, the problem solver will identify “cause and effect” relationships and will then pinpoint the core issues represented in the problem situation.
• Resolving a complex multi-tiered problem will have adaptive and corrective actions to provide a complete solution.
• Information gathering will be done based on the Divergent/Convergent thinking model.
• 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?”
• 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).
• Identifying the most appropriate stakeholders and information sources will always precede information gathering.
• Identifying the most specific object and most specific fault will come at the start of the technical cause analysis.
• Specifying the detail of the incident/problem/solution will be based on factual information arranged in a factor analysis framework.
• Hypotheses will be tested on paper before any actions are implemented.
• Any decision to be taken will be preceded by a proper stakeholder analysis.
• Evaluation of options/action and alternatives will be systematically screened against the solution or decision requirements.
• Before a decision is implemented, risks for implementation will be considered.
• Risk analysis will be based upon the relationship between risks and likely causes of that risk.
• All analyses will be rounded off with an appropriate action plan to implement the next step actions.
• All actions to be taken will be screened against the original objective of the problem-solving exercise.