Template

A3 Coaching Worksheet — Interactive A3 Template with Embedded Coaching Prompts

An interactive A3 worksheet that guides authors through background, evidence-backed current condition, SMART goals, structured root-cause analysis, clear countermeasures with owners and dates, impact estimates, and a measurable verification plan. Inline coaching prompts help coaches and authors produce verifiable countermeasures and reduce superficial RCAs.

Interactive Tool

A3 Coaching Worksheet

This interactive A3 guides you to produce a concise, evidence-backed problem analysis and verifiable countermeasures. Use the coaching prompts to strengthen statements, cite evidence (links or summary data), and make verification measurable. Save drafts, update as you test countermeasures, and return to verify results.

Summarize the problem in one clear sentence. Avoid solutions here — focus on the observable gap or issue.
Who is responsible for developing and implementing countermeasures? Include role and contact info.
YYYY-MM-DD or a clear date for versioning.
Briefly explain why this problem matters now. Describe scope, affected processes/products/customers, and any prior attempts to address it. Coaching prompt: What evidence or stakeholder feedback led you here? Keep this <= 200 words.
Describe the current observable condition using data where possible. Include counts, frequencies, timeline, sample observations, and links to source documents or dashboards. Coaching prompt: What would a skeptical reviewer want to see to believe this is the current condition? Paste links or short data excerpts.
List the metric name, baseline value, measurement period, and source (e.g., 'defects per 1000 units = 4.2 (Jan–Mar 2026), source: Q1 quality log'). Coaching prompt: How will you measure improvement?
State a measurable target and timeframe. Coaching prompt: Make this specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound (SMART). Example: 'Reduce defects from 4.2 to <=1.5 per 1000 units within 6 months.'
Choose the structured method you used for analysis.
Summarize your root-cause findings and include supporting evidence (data patterns, observations, experiment results). Coaching prompt: For each identified cause, show at least one piece of data, observation, or experiment that links cause to effect.
Condense the main root cause into one concise sentence. Coaching prompt: Could you test this assumption? If not, refine to make it testable.
Choose how many distinct countermeasures you will plan (you can save up to 3 in this template).
Describe the countermeasure. Coaching prompt: Explain how this countermeasure addresses the root cause and what you expect to change.
Person or role accountable for implementation and tracking.
Target completion or go-live date (YYYY-MM-DD).
How will you verify this countermeasure worked? Define the metric, measurement method, frequency, and pass/fail criteria.
Optional additional countermeasure. Coaching prompt: Keep it distinct from Countermeasure 1 (different mechanism or owner).
Optional third countermeasure.
Summarize expected benefits (quality, cost, time, safety, customer impact). Coaching prompt: Tie benefits to specific metrics listed earlier and provide a conservative estimate.
Estimate how many staff-hours per week this countermeasure will save (numeric).
Numeric estimate linked to your baseline metric.
Provide a number and note the currency in the narrative above.
Describe the data sources, cadence, who reviews the results, and the criteria for declaring success. Coaching prompt: What specific evidence will move this A3 from 'Implemented' to 'Verified'?
Current status of this A3.
After verification, record what worked, what didn’t, and recommended standard work updates or follow-up projects.
For facilitators and coaches: provide feedback, clarifying questions, and verification notes.
Paste links to dashboards, photos, data extracts, spreadsheets, or other evidence that supports the current condition and verification steps.
Name of author submitting this A3.
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