Performing Root Cause Analysis in 6 easy steps!
Almost every project has problems. But recognising a problem is one thing; figuring out how to solve it is quite another. There’s a problem if you’re missing deadlines and the quality of your product or service is suffering.
To resolve the problem, you must employ techniques that allow your team to be open and honest in order to discuss possible solutions. A root cause analysis is one method for doing so.
What Is Root Cause Analysis?
A root cause analysis is a problem-solving technique that allows teams to identify issues that are causing the problem, as the name implies.
When there are issues with a project, especially those that have a negative impact on the client, root cause analysis is used. This could be anything from a client expressing dissatisfaction with a project feature to teams becoming stalled and deliverables falling behind schedule.
Problems in a project, of course, are not the result of a single cause. As a result, a root cause analysis is set up to capture a variety of causes that are causing the issue you’re having.
How to Perform a Root Cause Analysis?
It’s crucial not to get caught up in the symptoms when conducting a root cause analysis. Remember that this is a root-cause investigation. Those are the areas where you should concentrate your efforts and address any project flaws.
· Identify the problem: There’s no way to go back and look for causes in the process that led to the problem unless you have a clearly defined problem. Knowing the problem and defining its scope is the most crucial step.
· Work backward: Retrace your steps to find potential causes for the problem you’ve identified. Again, there’s a good chance there’s more than one. Make a list of as many as are relevant. Brainstorming with your team and using process mapping and a fishbone diagram to capture the various causes leading to your problem are all part of this process.
· Determine what the root cause is: Other tools can be useful, such as the five whys (which we’ll discuss shortly), a fault tree, a cause and event tree, and so on.
· Come up with solutions: Brainstorming with the team is beneficial once again. They are the ones who are most familiar with the project and its execution, and they will be your best resource for resolving the issue.
· Implement the solution: Remember that this isn’t a one-time solution; it must be long-term and ensure that the solution is performing as intended. This necessitates patience and follow-up, as well as bringing anyone who will be affected by the change.
· Monitor, track and report on the solution: This step can be made easier with a project management software.
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