What is a Root Cause?
The word speaks for itself: the root of the cause. That simple? Yes!
BTW, I like my another version from the practical point of view:
A Root Cause is defined as any cause when it is removed, it can eliminate the reoccurrence of an effect.
What's the root of a tree? There are many components of the tree: leaves, truck, body, bottom part, ROOT: the most bottom part inside the soil. Is it the ROOT the only root cause of a tree? (The answer is NO, below will tell you why.)
Every single problem or an issue is an effect of a cause. If there is a effect, there is a cause.
A cause is the reason behind causing the effect. Cause -> Effect. From now on, the symbol -> will be used to mean causing. For example, the Cause is no electricity and the Effect is Lamp malfunction. No electricity causing the Lamp malfunction.
No Electricity -> Lamp Malfunction
Cause A -> Effect A
So, in the example, if we remove the Cause A, we can eliminate Effect A.
For instance, the main switch is turned off causing the lamp malfunction. The cause of the lamp malfunction is the off main switch. According to the definition above: the root cause of the lamp malfunction is the off main switch.
That simple?! Yes! That simple. Do I need to find out who turn off the switch? That may be the root cause. Do I need to find out the reason behind the person turn off the switch? That can be the root cause too, right?
Let me draw the diagram to clarify how to single out this chain of effects and identify the root cause.
Reason behind the person turning off the switch -> The person turn off the switch -> Main switch is off -> Lamp malfunction.
If you look at above diagram, we can rewrite it like below.
Cause A -> Cause B (Effect of Cause A) -> Cause C (Effect of Cause C) -> final Effect
So, let me ask the same question again. What's the root cause of the final effect?
..... give you 5 minutes to think about it :)
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Answer: Cause A, Cause B, Cause C
What? Why all three are the root causes of the final effect?
The answer is: if removing the cause will removing the final effect. This fit the root case definition.
Cause A: Reason behind the person turning off the switch ->
Cause B: The person turn off the switch ->
Cause C: Main switch is off ->
Final Effect: Lamp malfunction.
Eliminate Cause C: If we turn the main switch on, the lamp is functional now. The effect is gone.
Eliminate Cause B: If the person did not turn off the switch, the switch is on, the Lamp is functional. Effect gone!
Eliminate Cause A: If the reason behind the person turning off the switch is removed, the person did not turn off the switch. The switch is on and the Lamp is functional now. The effect is gone too.
So, the root cause of an issue is depending how the issue is defined. If you want to solve the issue of Lamp malfunction. You can just turn the main switch to solve this issue. The immedicate cause of lamp malfunction is good enough to resolve the issue.
If you want to resolve the issue to prevent the person turn off the switch, we have to find the reason behind why the person did that.
So, my point is: It is not necessary to dig too deep of a cause unless you want to address deeper issue.
If not, immediate cause is good enough in most cases.
Points to remember:
a. Cause can become an effect if there is a cause creating this cause.
b. Eliminating a cause to remove an unwanted effect, this very cause is weighty enough to be a ROOT CAUSE.
2. How about I have 2 causes of a effect (issue or problem)?
Cause A: Main Switch is off -> Lamp is malfunction
Cause B: Light Bulb is broken -> Lamp is malfunction
Both Cause A & Cause B cause the lamp malfunction.
To resolve this issue, we can resolve Cause A and Cause B. That is to turn the main switch on and replace the light bulb.
To be creative, i give you 5 minutes again to find a creative solution yourself that can solve this problem with ONE solution.
..... give you 5 minutes to think about.
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Cause C: No one monitor the main switch and the Light bulb. That's the cause of Cause A & B.
So, we can resolve this issue by finding the Cause C, exactly speaking to define the cause C and resolve it.
We can just search what behind the Cause A & B.
Cause C -> Cause A & B -> Final Effect
Not Monitor Main Switch and Bulb -> Main Switch is off & Bulb is broken -> Lamp malfunction.
In this, Cause A & B, a combined cause can be a root cause of Lamp malfunction.
Or, Cause C can be a root cause of Cause A & B.
Either eliminating only cause C or eliminating cause A & B will resolve the Lamp malfunction problem.
Points to remember:
a. An effect could have multiple causes.
b. The multiple causes can be a root cause.
c. Or the cause behind the multiple causes can be a root cause.
3. How about a cause has multiple effects?
Main switch is off -> Lamp malfunction and Alarm clock malfunction
Cause A -> Effect A & Effect B
This is similar to the previous cases. The root cause is Cause A.
Resolving Cause A will eliminate effect A & effect B.
Points to remember:
a. A cause could have multiple effects.
b. Resolve this cause could resolve multiples issues/problems.
Conclusion:
Isn't it nice and effective using one stone to hunt for two birds?
If you can put the very definition in mind, you would not be afraid to identify the root cause.
By this, you will get more chance to tacky the issues in your work and your life.
Hopefully, this can help to remove the hassle of finding a root cause.
