What is a root cause analysis?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Root cause analysis** — finding underlying causes of problems.

**Techniques:**
- **5 Whys** — ask why repeatedly.
- **Fishbone diagram** — categorize causes.
- **Pareto analysis** — 80/20 rule.
- **Fault tree analysis** — logical diagram.

**5 Whys Example:**
```
Problem: Orders delayed
Why? → Shipping department behind
Why? → Too many manual steps
Why? → No automation
Why? → Budget not approved
Why? → Business case not clear

Root Cause: Unclear business value
```

**Fishbone categories:**
- People, Process, Technology.
- Materials, Environment, Management.

**Benefits:**
- Addresses root, not symptoms.
- Prevents recurrence.
- Data-driven decisions.

Business Analyst: What is a root cause analysis?