Root Cause Analysis of Problem

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS TO SOLVE PROBLEM
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We are confronted with the various types of problems deriving from the social issues, family lives, and office environment. We usually handle these problems on surface analysis basis instead of adopting root cause analysis. For example, if you are not in a position to achieve the performance to the desired level of your boss, who is the head of product development, he takes you as disgruntled and nonchalant employee. Your failure to provide targeted output becomes obstacle for him to prove the performance in totality to the top management of the company. So, your boss will shout on you and then enlighten you with some direction to do the job in his desired way, but still the phase continues. It may happen that your boss is only giving quick fix solutions to your problem with a few efficacies instead of delving to the root cause. This failure of root cause analysis will resurface the problem which tantamount to waste of resources and expenditure. The reason of recurrence of the same issue is because of the job which you are performing, may be you are theoretically and academically very fit, but your less grasping power of that particular job in practical way is bringing down your desired level of performance. So, your boss is to ensure honing your practical skill by imparting training by some expert so that your level of performance is getting improved upon over a passage of time. We all know that the doctor treats his patients by analysing the root cause of the disease. And unless the doctor is able to find out the root cause, the diagnosis may not be that accurate.

In the same way, in day-to-day business operations, the root cause analysis of any recurring problem is very imperative. Any business, say manufacturing or trading will be definitely confronted with enormous problems comprising business decisions, fund flow management, human resources & conflict management, so the root cause analysis is the only solution to find out the remedial action. Root cause analysis is the structured and defined measure to pin point the exact problem and diagnose the same to restrict its further reoccurrence. Root cause analysis helps to measure the real reason of the problem. It assumes that any problem is derivative of chain of actions and events. By using this analytical method, the root cause of this chain is to be found out so as to extract the root of the problem. It is a perennial problem and needs to be integrated to zoom up the operating efficiency of the business and enhance its growth. Root cause analysis is carried out in different stages depending on the nature of the problem and its complexity. More it is complex; searching of the root cause must be carried out in depth.


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Many questions are to be asked in sequential form; what is the problem? What is the specific reason which creates the problem? What is the cause behind this problem? For what duration, the problem exists? To what extent, this problem is damaging the business? How to avoid this problem for betterment of the operating efficiency? After deriving to the factual information, the data’s and reports are to be generated to investigate the problem. The following methods should be considered step by step to investigate the reason of the problem and its reoccurrence.

Drill down method.
Fish bone analysis.
5 whys.

Drill down method is noting but to break the total problem into many parts and understand the problem in micro level.

“Fish bone analysis” is a tool to find out the problem depicting a simple diagram and analyze all the causes of this problem. After finding out the causes, “5 whys” method is to be used. By utilizing 5 whys, you can reach to the fundamental reason of the problem. You have to go on enquiring about “whys”. This will lead to a reason, then for another reason for the occurrence of this particular problem and further “whys” will give rise to another question in turn to the different reasons of the problem. Numbers of “whys” can be increased depending on the nature and arduous of the problem. By these “5 whys” techniques supported by “drill down” and “fish bone” tools, you can easily pin point the real reason which causes the generation as well as resurface of any problem.

Through this root cause analysis, the galore of problems which normally occur at all the levels of functionaries, can be eliminated from its reappearance and ultimately this will enhance the operating efficiency of the business tremendously. But one thing which is to be remembered that this root cause analysis is an everlasting process and it does not prescribe any short cut method to recommend any apparent solution to a problem.