ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
Problem Solving
So here is the story:
▪ Problems exist
▪ Problems reoccur
▪ Problem solving magicians are expensive
o They train everyone (a sprinkle of pixie dust)
o They do one (concentrated pixie dust)
o They disappear (with full pockets)What is the difference between troubleshooting,
problem solving and root cause analysis?
Brainstorming: A technique teams use to generate ideas on a
particular subject. Each person in the team is asked to think creatively
and write down as many ideas as possible. The ideas are not
discussed or reviewed until after the brainstorming session.
Troubleshooting: To identify the source of a problem and apply a
solution to "fix it“.
Problem Solving: The act of defining a problem; determining the cause of the problem; identifying,
prioritizing and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution. Root Cause Analysis5:
The establishing of logically complete, evidence based, tightly-coupled chains of factors from the least
acceptable consequences to the deepest significant underlying causes.
“Cause and effect, means
and ends, seed and fruit,
cannot be severed; for the
effect already
blooms in the cause, the
end preexists in the
means, the fruit in the
seed."