Root Cause Analysis
Frameworks for moving past symptoms, identifying underlying causes, and solving recurring problems more effectively.
Recommended Frameworks
5 Whys Technique: Discover Root Causes
Get to the root cause of an issue by asking "why" repeatedly.
Fishbone Diagram: A Simple Guide Helps You Uncover Root Causes
A simple yet powerful tool that helps you analyze and solve problems in a structured way.
FMEA Methodology: Identify Failure Modes and Prioritize Risks
Identify failure modes and prioritize risks.
PDCA Model: The Cycle of Continuous Improvement (Deming Cycle)
A systematic approach to continuous improvement, involving Plan-Do-Check-Act 4 activities.
FAQ
Use it when the same problem keeps returning, when the visible issue may only be a symptom, or when the cost of misdiagnosis is high enough that a surface-level fix is risky.
It works especially well for recurring operational failures, quality issues, process breakdowns, customer complaints, defects, delays, and cross-functional issues with unclear origins.
Root Cause Analysis starts after the problem is sufficiently defined and asks why it is happening. Problem Framing comes earlier and helps clarify what the problem actually is before deeper diagnosis begins.
Stopping at the first plausible explanation. Teams often identify a contributing factor and mistake it for the root cause without checking whether it truly explains the recurring pattern.