Dimensional Analysis

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The dimensional analysis technique is a checklist (Jensen, 1978) that relates to Five Ws 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.