The dimensional analysis technique is a checklist (Jensen,
1978) that relates to Five W’s
and H, and is of most use as an aide memoir for initial exploration
of a problem or evaluating options, particularly those associated with
human relations, rather than of a technical nature. Jensen defines a
problem as a violation of values – a slightly unusual approach
that is reflected in this list:
Substantive Dimension (‘What?’)
- Commission/omission? Doing something wrong,
or failing to do something?
- Attitude/deed? Is it necessary to change attitudes
or practices?
- Ends/means? Is the irritant we see the actual
problem or merely a symptom of it?
- Active/passive? Active threat or source of irritation?
- Visible/invisible? Is the problem masked (e.g.
covert human relations issues)
Spatial Dimension (‘Where?’)
- Local/distant? Is it merely local or are their
some remote influences
- Particular location(s) within a location. Recognise
the exact area concerned.
- Isolated/widespread? Is the problem isolated
or linked to several other problem areas.
Temporal (‘When?’)
- Long-standing/recent? Which are parts are new
and which are old?
- Present/Impending? Is the problem happening
or looks as though it may happen?
- Constant/ebb-and-flow? Is the problem always
there, irregular or cyclic?
Quantitative (‘How much?’)
- Singular/multiple? Is there a single cause or
are there many?
- Many/few people? How many people are affected
by the problem?
- General/specific? Is the problem applicable to
a broad category or very specific sub-area?
- Simple/complex? Are there several elements to
the problem with complex interactions?
- Too much/too little? Appears as a shortage or
surplus?
Qualitative (‘How serious?’)
- Philosophical/surface, is it an issue with deep
values or surface practicalities?
- Survival/enrichment? Is it a live-or-die issue,
or one to do with managing quality?
- Primary/secondary? What priority does the issue
have top or bottom?
- What values are being violated? See Jensen’s
definition of a problem (above).
- To what degree are they being violated? Qualifies
previous answer.
- Proper/improper values? Not all values should
be honoured.
