BA Technique #40: Root Cause Analysis

Investigating and determining the underlying causes of problems or issues to address them effectively

Erivan de Sena Ramos
4 min readMar 10, 2024

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Photo by DCP on Unsplash

Greetings, BAs! Today, we're peeling back the layers of complexity with the Root Cause Analysis, another essential Business Analysis technique from The BABOK Guide v3. Brace yourselves to uncover the underlying causes of problems and incidents. By identifying root causes, Business Analysts can develop practical solutions and prevent future issues, ensuring optimal system design and analysis outcomes. Let's kickstart our exploration right away!

What is this technique about?

Root Cause Analysis is a problem-solving method that aims to identify the root causes of issues. Sakichi Toyoda invented it and is known as "The Five Whys." W. Edwards Deming popularised the method, eventually evolving into practices like Six Sigma. Today, Root Cause Analysis is widely used across many industries.

In Business Analysis, a root cause is the underlying reason behind a problem or issue. It is the fundamental source that needs to be addressed to resolve the problem effectively. Identifying the root cause is essential for Business Analysts to develop solutions and prevent future occurrences. By tackling the root cause, they can ensure…

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Erivan de Sena Ramos

Business Analysis & Requirements Engineering enthusiast. Information Systems & Software Engineering specialist. MBA in PM & HR. CBAP, PMP, CSM, ITIL & COBIT