DRIVE - A Simple and Useful Technique for Process Improvement
Posted by
James Freeman
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DRIVE stands for Define, Review, Identify, Verify and Execute. It is a simple and useful technique for problem solving and analysis that can be used to boost process improvement.
Overview of Drive Method
DRIVE is a commonly used tool and approach in process improvement. This approach helps us analyze the problem from different angles. Its meaning is as follows:
Define |
Define the scope of the problem and the criteria by which success will be measured and agree on the deliverables and the success factors. |
Review |
Review the current situation, understand the background, identify and collect information, include performance metrics, identify problem areas, improvements, and "low-hanging fruits." |
Identify |
Identify improvements or solutions for the problem as well as necessary changes to gain and sustain the improvements. |
Verify |
Verify that the improvements will bring about benefits that meet the defined success criteria, prioritise and pilot the improvements. |
Execute |
Execute the implementation of the solutions and improvements; plan a review; gather feedback and review. |
DRIVE Approach Circular Diagram
More Process Improvement Methodologies
There are a lot more methods for process improvement besides DRIVE. See the following list:
- Process mapping
- Process flowcharting
- Force field analysis
- Cause & effect diagrams
- CEDA
- Brainstorming
- Pareto analysis
- Statistical process control (SPC)
- Control charts
- Check sheets
- Bar charts
- Scatter diagrams
- Matrix analysis
- Dot plot or tally chart
- Histograms
