Observation Study Plan

Purpose

Design a workplace observation approach to uncover real process behavior, not just reported behavior.

Use when

• workarounds, handoffs, or tacit practices matter
• interview data may be unreliable or incomplete
• process understanding must be grounded in practice

Inputs

• problem context
• available evidence and constraints
• known stakeholders or actors
• desired output format

Procedure

1. Clarify the decision or deliverable.
2. State assumptions before analysis.
3. Apply the technique explicitly rather than implicitly.
4. Capture findings in a structured table or list.
5. Separate facts, inferences, and unknowns.
6. End with implications for next actions.

Outputs

• observation plan
• observation checklist
• note-taking structure
• risk/ethics considerations
• synthesis prompts

Guardrails

• Do not present the technique as the answer; use it to inform a decision.
• Flag missing evidence and weak assumptions.
• Keep terminology consistent with the project glossary.
• Where tradeoffs exist, rank them explicitly.

Completion criteria

• technique applied correctly
• assumptions visible
• findings actionable
• next step clear