Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Task

A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Task is a problem analysis task (for some problem statement) that requires the identifying of root causes through systematic causal analysis.

• AKA: RCA Task, Root Cause Investigation Task.
• Context:
  • Task Input: Problem Statement, Event Timeline, System State
    • Optional Input: Historical Data, System Documentation, Event Logs
  • Task Output: Root Cause Analysis Report, Causal Graph, Corrective Action Recommendations
  • Task Performance Measure: Analysis Quality Metrics such as causal accuracy, prevention effectiveness, and solution sustainability
  • ...
  • It can produce a Root Cause Analysis Report through systematic documentation.
  • It can identify Root Causes through deductive inference.
  • It can distinguish Causal Factors from Root Causes through event correlation.
  • It can establish Causal Graphs through relationship mapping.
  • It can prevent Problem Recurrence through corrective action identification.
  • ...
  • It can often be part of a Continuous Improvement Process during system enhancement.
  • It can often support Problem Prevention during preventive planning.
  • It can often enable Solution Development during remediation processes.
  • It can often facilitate Knowledge Capture during investigation processes.
  • It can often guide Corrective Action during implementation planning.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Root Cause Analysis to being a Complex Root Cause Analysis, depending on its problem complexity.
  • It can range from being a Reactive Root Cause Analysis to being a Proactive Root Cause Analysis, depending on its analysis timing.
  • It can range from being a Technical Root Cause Analysis to being a Systemic Root Cause Analysis, depending on its analysis scope.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with Event Correlation Analysis for causal chain identification.
  • It can connect to Corrective Action Planning for solution development.
  • It can support Preventive Action Design for recurrence prevention.
  • It can link to Process Improvement for system enhancement.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Technical RCA Tasks, such as:
    • IT System RCAs, such as:
      • Software Failure Analysis for code defect investigation.
      • Infrastructure Problem Analysis for system failure investigation.
    • Industrial RCAs, such as:
      • Manufacturing Process Analysis for production issue investigation.
      • Equipment Failure Analysis for machinery problem investigation.
  • Analysis Methods, such as:
    • Structured Analysis Methods, such as:
      • 5 Whys Task for iterative cause investigation.
      • Ishikawa Analysis Task for cause-effect mapping.
    • Statistical Analysis Methods, such as:
      • Pareto Analysis Task for vital factor identification.
      • FMEA Task for failure mode investigation.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Business Process Improvement, which focuses on process enhancement rather than cause identification.
  • Problem Resolution Task, which emphasizes immediate solution over root cause discovery.
  • Incident Response Task, which prioritizes immediate recovery over cause analysis.
• See: Systems Analysis, Kepner-Tregoe Analysis, Human Factors Analysis, Continuous Improvement, Incident Management, Accident Analysis, Five Whys, FMEA, Fault Tree Analysis, Ishikawa Diagram, Pareto Analysis.

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References

2022

• (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/root_cause_analysis Retrieved:2022-12-12.
  • In science and engineering, root cause analysis (RCA) is a method of problem solving used for identifying the root causes of faults or problems. It is widely used in IT operations, manufacturing, telecommunications, industrial process control, accident analysis (e.g., in aviation, rail transport, or nuclear plants), medicine (for medical diagnosis), healthcare industry (e.g., for epidemiology), etc. Root cause analysis is a form of deductive inference since it requires an understanding of the underlying causal mechanisms of the potential root causes and the problem.

    RCA can be decomposed into four steps:

    • Identify and describe the problem clearly.
    • Establish a timeline from the normal situation until the problem occurs.
    • Distinguish between the root cause and other causal factors (e.g., using event correlation).
    • Establish a causal graph between the root cause and the problem.
  • RCA generally serves as input to a remediation process whereby corrective actions are taken to prevent the problem from reoccurring. The name of this process varies from one application domain to another. According to ISO/IEC 31010, RCA may include the techniques Five whys, Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), Fault tree analysis, Ishikawa diagram and Pareto analysis.

2021

• https://sixsigmadsi.com/rca/
  • QUOTE: ... Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a method that identifies and isolates the root cause of problems. Root causes are those factors that can be eliminated to prevent an adverse event from happening.

     Root Cause Analysis (RCA) assumes that it’s more efficient to prevent and solve underlying problems than treating symptoms or putting out fires. A variety of techniques and principles can be used to determine the root cause of an event or trend. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) can identify the root causes of an event or trend, and not just cause and effectIt's the change in the average value of the output caused by....

    Root cause analysis (RCA) is crucial to problem-solving. Preventing an event from happening is better than reacting to its harmful consequences. RCA is a permanent solution that eliminates the cause of the defectA defect is a physical, functional, or aesthetic attrib....

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2015

• (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/root_cause_analysis Retrieved:2015-10-4.
  • Root cause analysis (RCA) is a method of problem solving used for identifying the root causes of faults or problems. A factor is considered a root cause if removal thereof from the problem-fault-sequence prevents the final undesirable event from recurring; whereas a causal factor is one that affects an event's outcome, but is not a root cause. ...

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