Chapter 2
What PIPS Is
Overview
What PIPS is, where it came from, and why it works. A clear overview of the six-step framework and its intellectual heritage.
PIPS stands for Process Improvement and Problem Solving. It is a structured, six-step methodology that guides teams from problem identification through implementation and evaluation.
The framework has its roots in Xerox Corporation's Problem Solving Process, developed in the 1980s as part of their quality revolution. But PIPS is not a historical artifact. It has been adapted, simplified, and tested in environments where theory meets practice.
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Sign Up Free to ReadKey Takeaways
- •PIPS is built on proven foundations — Deming, Ishikawa, Lewin, Osborn — adapted for modern teams
- •The six steps create a discipline that prevents the most common problem-solving mistakes
- •Accessibility is the core design principle: same framework for individual contributors and senior leaders
- •The cycle is continuous — Step 6 feeds back into Step 1