Root Cause Analysis
Move from a measurable business problem to evidence-backed root causes. Structure candidate causes, explore a Five Whys chain, validate the strongest hypotheses and prioritize causes for management action.
Move Beyond Symptoms to Evidence-Backed Causes.
Root cause analysis helps business analysts distinguish symptoms, contributing factors and underlying causes. The goal is not to produce the longest list of possible causes—it is to build a credible causal explanation that supports effective action.
- Define the problem in measurable terms.
- Separate evidence from assumptions.
- Explore causes broadly before converging.
- Use causal questioning to move beyond surface symptoms.
- Validate root-cause hypotheses before recommending solutions.
Root Cause Analysis — Step by Step
Eight locked stages move from problem definition and evidence through cause exploration, Five Whys, validation, prioritization and management review.
Define the Problem Precisely
Customer Onboarding Delay — Current State
Reveal the problem definition before exploring causes.
Candidate and Validated Cause Register
The register separates candidate causes from validated root-cause hypotheses and records supporting evidence.
Test a Different Cause Hypothesis
Experiment Mode is isolated from the guided analysis. Change evidence consistency and causal leverage to see how hypothesis strength changes.
Quick Knowledge Check
Core Root-Cause Analysis Rules
Problem
Define the observable performance gap without embedding an assumed cause or solution.
Cause Categories
Use categories to broaden investigation and reduce tunnel vision.
Five Whys
Ask successive causal questions only while each answer remains evidence-backed and meaningful.
Validation
A root cause should explain the evidence and have a plausible relationship to the observed problem.