Root Cause Analysis

Root Cause Analysis is an iterative problem solving technique used to identify causes of problems within organizations. RCA involves systematically identifying potential sources of issues and eliminating each until the issue disappears. Root cause analysis is commonly performed during quality audits and project management meetings.

In Lean Product Development, the concept of “Root Causes” is applied at different levels of the organization. At the lowest level, there’s the “Cause Why”. This is usually done through brainstorming sessions that involve everyone involved in the project. These sessions help uncover hidden assumptions about the customer, market, technology, competition, etc., which lead to decisions being made