Why you need to push for the root cause

I see how many businesses handle their end of project reviews, or their non-conformance reports.

I see how they try to skip along the process, trying to get back to what they were doing in the first place.

For some of these businesses, what they were doing before is how they got into the bother they are looking at presently... so why go back to it?

The root cause is important. It help organisations of all shapes and forms to improve. But only if you get to the root cause. The root cause is the aha moment, the point when you realise that the change is in your power to resolve.

When you fail to dig down to the right level, you are left with vague conclusions. You aren't left with the clarity of a root cause realisation. You don't have a clear set of steps you can take.

This is the power of the root cause and I urge you to embrace it if you aren't doing so presently.

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A few years ago I wrote a book on getting the most out of the 5 Why technique for determining root causes. The book is called Effective Root Cause Analysis. Apart from some practical ideas on how to use this technique in a way that achieves better results than just asking 'why?' and hoping for the best, I put a challenge in there.

The challenge was to take ownership of the root cause. When you make this a personal issue, the impact, the control the ability effect change, all changes.

If you haven't experienced this yet, and you keep facing Groundhog day (with the same issues rearing their heads day in and day out) then I can't stress enough the importance of the root cause.

Look at your meetings where you review business wide challenges, or non-conformances, and don't let yourself off the hook. See what you can personally take responsibility for and what change you can make.

If you have an enlightened team then they can join in the process. A team full of people willing to take responsibility for the shortcomings can do amazing things. I've seen it first hand and I've seen it through my consulting clients.

If you want some practical ideas around this, then don't forget to check out my book Effective Root Cause Analysis.

Solving problems properly, once, is a far better use of time and resources and going over old ground time and time again.

Enjoy!

About the author:

Giles Johnston is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in helping businesses to grow and improve through better business processes and embracing Kaizen.

Giles is also the author of Effective Root Cause Analysis and 'What Does Good Look Like?'.

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