What is root cause analysis in incident investigations, and name two methods?

What is root cause analysis in incident investigations, and name two methods?

• A. A process to identify underlying causes; methods include 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams
• B. A quick incident summary
• C. A personal reflection
• D. A compliance checklist

Answer: (A)

Root cause analysis in incident investigations is a structured process used to uncover the fundamental factors that allowed the incident to occur, not just what happened or who was involved. By identifying underlying causes, teams can implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence rather than merely treating symptoms. Two widely used methods are the 5 Whys, where you repeatedly ask why something happened until you reach a fundamental cause, and fishbone diagrams (Ishikawa diagrams), which organize possible causes into categories (such as people, equipment, materials, methods, environment, and management) to visually map out contributing factors and their relationships. The other descriptions—like a quick incident summary, personal reflection, or a compliance checklist—do not provide a structured, in-depth analysis aimed at root causes, so they don’t fit as root cause analysis.

Root cause analysis in incident investigations is a structured process used to uncover the fundamental factors that allowed the incident to occur, not just what happened or who was involved. By identifying underlying causes, teams can implement corrective actions that prevent recurrence rather than merely treating symptoms. Two widely used methods are the 5 Whys, where you repeatedly ask why something happened until you reach a fundamental cause, and fishbone diagrams (Ishikawa diagrams), which organize possible causes into categories (such as people, equipment, materials, methods, environment, and management) to visually map out contributing factors and their relationships. The other descriptions—like a quick incident summary, personal reflection, or a compliance checklist—do not provide a structured, in-depth analysis aimed at root causes, so they don’t fit as root cause analysis.