ABSTRACT
With HR programs, the question is, “What is causing the apparent problem?” Sometimes a particular measure is unacceptable or out of the norm of what is expected. Understanding the cause of deteriorating performance is crucial. Sometimes the impact measures are adequate but could be much better, and the focus is on the barriers that keep them from improving. Various tools help to illuminate answers, ranging from problem solving and analytical tools to qualitative tools. A technique to analyze the relationship between variables, such as correlation and regression analysis, might be in order. Or simple hypothesis testing or factor analysis may be appropriate. A qualitative approach may be necessary. The point is that a particular tool, process, or technique must be implemented to understand the relationship.
