Why Root Cause Analysis is Important?

Which skill do you think is the most crucial skill in 2021? which skill do you think will be in demand in the next decade?

Now, whenever I ask such questions or search in GOOGLE, we always get answers like these

1) Communication skills

2) Digital Marketing

3) Project Management

4) Negotiation and List can go on. Even I am sure you can find the list of top skills you need in the next decade. However, there is one skill, or if I may say talent (actually, I don't believe in talent- Talent is just another name of skills that have reached its perfection). So being told that, I am going to say it is talent.

So most crucial talent in you is to look at the problem and go into the depth of the problem. Why has this problem occurred in the first place? And what do I have to do so that this problem does not resurface again? Now it may seem very simple, but actually, it is very hard. There are various ways to unearth what was the real problem or how you can solve something. Some of the most common tools are the list that I took from here https://www.ease.io/5-root-cause-analysis-tools-for-more-effective-problem-solving/.

• Pareto Chart
• The 5 Whys
• Fishbone Diagram
• Scatter Diagram
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Now all these tools are used in Lean Six Sigma, or better to say in quality, but my question is can we apply these tools in our day 2-day life. As you can see, the answer has to be yes. One of the essential tools that I used to go to the bottom of any problem is five why

It is as simple as asking why why why why why from the same problem. You do not have to use it five times every time. You can invite three times or seven times or even nine times, depending on the situation. If you are trying to ask it from someone else, try to limit the why question and add how, what, where, why, when, those 5W and H so that the other person does not become defensive. But whatever you do, it helps to get to the bottom of the problem. Let us see how we can do it daily.

Question: Why did you have not completed the Assignment?

Answer: I was sick

Question: How did you become Sick?

Answer: I did not sleep for two nights?

Question: Why did you not sleep for the last two nights?

Answer: I was trying to complete my Assignment

Question: Why were you working on an assignment for completing the last two nights?

Answer: I was supposed to do it on the weekend, but I did not do it then

Question: Why did you not do it on the weekend?

Answer: I was watching the football match

In this way, we get to the bottom of the problem. You can also Fishbone diagram. Using a fishbone diagram is a fun way to put the issue on paper. In my opinion, when you put something on paper, it becomes easier to grasp, and we can also refer to it in the future. I highly recommend you use a fishbone diagram for your business problem, at least.

When we learn from our problems and document them through root cause analysis, we become intelligent and can climb the ladder of success faster. If we do not do a root cause analysis of the problem, we are stuck forever in a loop of doing the same problem. Do you do root cause analysis for your situation? If not, why not?