The CATWOE (checklist) is a problem-solving tool, defined by Peter Checkland, that instills the principles demonstrated in the CATWOE analysis process to create a point of reference for identifying and addressing threats or issues with multiple, relevant components.

CATWOE stands for customer, actors, transformation (process), worldview, owners, and environment. A customer is an individual or group who benefits from a processor system. Though a customer could be a customer as it relates to buying or consuming an item or service, a customer is not limited to being a client similar to students or employees.

Actors are the people initiators. For example, this could be a service provider or an employee. In other words, if customers are the receiving party, then consider actors as the providing party.

Transformation or of the transformation process it’s what is being transformed by the actors. Worldview is the way the transformation plays into the complete process or “the bigger picture.”

The owner is the one responsible for the process or the circumstances in question. It is also important to determine how the owner fits into resolving the issue at hand.

Lastly, environmental constraints focus on the limitations that influence solutions or may affect possible solutions. It also helps to gauge the likelihood a solution implemented will be successful.

Essentially, methods involving CATWOE identify what a system or process does, how the system or process does it, and the purpose or intentions of the system or process.

CATWOE acts as a guiding tool to allow an organization to visualize components of a process and the relationship of those components. See the image below for an example of CATWOE applied to further analysing a process. Consider how each component relates to the “bigger picture.”

References

Table I The CATWOE for the KM issues in NPDF processes [Digital image]. Retrieved April 11, 2019, from http://teawater-fci.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-is-catwoe-analysis.html

Mulder, P. (2017). CATWOE Analysis. Retrieved April 11,2019 from ToolsHero: https://www.toolshero.com/problem-solving/catwoe-analysis/