Know Where You are Going Root Cause Analysis Master of Management Program AdaptNet Cambridge College

Root Cause Analysis – The Five Whys Source: Originally from R. Ross, cited by Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Peter Senge, st edition, paperback edition, xxiii, 413 p., ISBN

Solution: Turn on the lights two hours later. The stones at the Jefferson Memorial are disintegrating. Why? The stones have to be cleaned frequently with harsh chemicals. Why? To remove pigeon poop. Why so many pigeons? They feed on the heavy spider population. Why are there so many spiders? They are attracted by the huge moth population. Why all the moths? They are attracted by the monument’s lights at dusk.

Why, Because… Because of no nail, the horseshoe got lost, Because of no horseshoe, the horse got lost, Because of no horse, the rider got lost, Because of no rider, the battle got lost, Because of no battle, the kingdom got lost“ (Source: traditional)

Root Cause Failure to determine the root cause assures that you will be treating the symptoms of the problem instead of its cause, in which case, the disease will return, that is, you will continue to have the same problems over and over again.

"The important thing is to never stop questioning" ~Albert Einstein