Pareto analysis

A Pareto analysis in a diagram showing which cause should be addressed first.

Pareto analysis is a formal technique useful where many possible courses of action are competing for attention. In essence, the problem-solver estimates the benefit delivered by each action, then selects a number of the most effective actions that deliver a total benefit reasonably close to the maximal possible one.^{[citation needed]}

Pareto analysis is a creative way of looking at causes of problems because it helps stimulate thinking and organize thoughts. However, it can be limited by its exclusion of possibly important problems which may be small initially, but which grow with time. It should be combined with other analytical tools such as failure mode and effects analysis and fault tree analysis for example.^{[citation needed]}

This technique helps to identify the top portion of causes that need to be addressed to resolve the majority of problems. Once the predominant causes are identified, then tools like the Ishikawa diagram or Fish-bone Analysis can be used to identify the root causes of the problems. While it is common to refer to pareto as "80/20" rule, under the assumption that, in all situations, 20% of causes determine 80% of problems, this ratio is merely a convenient rule of thumb and is not nor should it be considered immutable law of nature.

The application of the Pareto analysis in risk management allows management to focus on those risks that have the most impact on the project.^[1]

Steps to identify the important causes using 80/20 rule

1. Form an explicit table listing the causes and their frequency as a percentage.
2. Arrange the rows in the decreasing order of importance of the causes (i.e., the most important cause first)
3. Add a cumulative percentage column to the table
4. Plot with causes on x- and cumulative percentage on y-axis
5. Join the above points to form a curve
6. Plot (on the same graph) a bar graph with causes on x- and percent frequency on y-axis
7. Draw line at 80% on y-axis parallel to x-axis. Then drop the line at the point of intersection with the curve on x-axis. This point on the x-axis separates the important causes (on the left) and trivial causes (on the right)
8. Explicitly review the chart to ensure that at least 80% of the causes are captured

^[2]

See also

• Pareto distribution
• Pareto chart
• Pareto interpolation
• Ishikawa diagram.

References

1. ↑ David Litten, Project Risk and Risk Management, Retrieved May 16, 2010
2. ↑ "Pareto Analysis". Retrieved 12 January 2012.