Compare and contrast the fundamental differences between special-cause variation and common-cause variation

Compare and contrast the fundamental differences between special-cause variation and common-cause variation. Provide one (1) business process example of each variation to support your response.

“Common cause of variances (also referred to as random causes of variances) would be your normal process of variation; things that we can expect (predictable). Special causes of variances would be something that is very difficult to predict, something unusual” (Fremouw, 2014). One (1) business process example of each variation for instance would be:

(Minitab17, 2016)

Process

 Common cause of variation

Special cause of variation

Recording customer contact information

An experienced operator makes an occasional error.

An untrained operator new to the job makes numerous data-entry errors.

Companies that utilize statistical thinking strategies often use control charts and run charts to help provide good illustrations in gaging whether their process is one of stability or instability. If instable, “a common method for brainstorming is to ask questions about why a particular failure occurred to determine the root cause. You can also us a cause-and-effect diagram (also called “fishbone diagram”) to get to the root of the breakdown in the process.

Reference

Fremouw, B. (2014). Project Management Concept #5: Common Causes of Variance vs Special Cause of Variance. Passionate Project Management. Retrieved April 10, 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYnzIlEVkf8

Minitab17. (2016). Using control charts to detect common-cause variations and special-cause variation. Retrieved April 19, 2017 from http://support.minitab.com/en-us/minitab/17/topic-library/quality-tools/control-charts/basics/using-control-charts-to-