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Programme 2
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Problem Solving
Fix the cause, not the symptom. Prove it with facts.
The five steps
From a gap you can see to causes you can fix
A structured method drawn from our OPI root cause module. Most operational problems end in people and systems, not in the equipment.
| Step | What happens | Typical tools |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Define the problem | Write one simple statement of the gap: what is happening against what the business needs. No cause, no solution and no blame inside. | SMART problem statement; gap analysis |
| 2 Choose where to start | Split the problem into its main parts with no overlaps and no gaps, then start where the gap is biggest and the team can act. | Logic tree; MECE check; Pareto chart |
| 3 Gather data and build the tree | Ask “Why?” about five times. Back every answer with data: records, job cards, observation. Cut branches the facts do not support. | 5 Whys tree; fishbone diagram; go-and-see |
| 4 Test the causes | Read the tree back: “If we fix this, is the step before it solved?” Invite the experts to challenge it. | Fix test; evidence test |
| 5 Group and act | Sort verified causes into four groups, then generate and prioritise fixes for each. | Leadership, Capability, Mindset & Behaviour, Technical; impact and ease matrix |
Four root-cause groups
Know what kind of cause you are fixing
| Group | The cause is about | Test question |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Direction, ownership and follow-up. | Is anyone accountable, and is it reviewed? |
| Capability | Knowledge, skills and authority. | If they wanted to, could they do it right? |
| Mindset & Behaviour | Beliefs, habits and what gets praised. | They know how, so why don’t they? |
| Technical | Equipment, systems, tools and procedures. | Would it still fail if everyone did their job perfectly? |
Programme outline
What the programme covers
| Module | What it covers | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Defining the problem | The five steps; writing a SMART problem statement with no cause, solution or blame inside. | Turn vague complaints into clear problem statements. |
| Finding the causes | The 5 Whys, fishbone and Pareto charts; building a fact base; cutting branches the facts do not support. | A light-hearted office case, then an operations case with evidence cards (some are red herrings). |
| Testing and grouping | Testing causes against the evidence; sorting them into the four root-cause groups. | Challenge each other’s cause trees. |
| From causes to fixes | Generating fixes for each root cause and prioritising them by impact and ease. | Build a short list of fixes for a real problem. |
| Applying it | Working the method on the team’s own problem: data gathering, a challenge session with experts and an action plan. | Coached project work and a short presentation to leaders. |
Delivered as a 1 to 3 day programme, tailored to what your team needs.
Link to OPI
The bridge between the gap and the fix
OPI sizes where value is being lost. Problem Solving explains why. It is the root cause stage of OPI taught as a stand-alone programme, so teams can use it on any problem, large or small.
Using AI in RCA Problem Solving
Faster analysis, same discipline
| Where AI helps | How | Human check |
|---|---|---|
| Define the problem | Suggest sharper SMART wording for a draft problem statement. | The team agrees the final statement. |
| Gather data | Summarise incident reports, logs and complaints into themes and possible causes to check. | Every cause is checked against facts. |
| Group and act | Cluster causes into the four groups and list possible fixes to consider. | The team tests and chooses the fixes. |
Example
Late starts on night maintenance
IllustrativeNight maintenance work keeps starting late, and management’s first reaction is “send the crew for training”. The team writes a SMART problem statement and builds a 5 Whys tree from permits, radio logs and job records. The root causes turn out to be a permit hand-off with no owner and an out-of-date procedure, not the crew’s skills. Fixing both brings start times back on target.
Talk to us about your performance gap
Email our consulting advisor at advisor@oscarinitiatives.com or call +60 16 323 7799.