(Optional) Use a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) tool.

Use should include creating a diagram (e.g., The 5 Whys, Flowchart, Fishbone [Ishikawa]) to determine possible solutions to the problem.

Teacher Resource:

• 7 Basic Quality Tools for Efficient Project Management Links to an external site., KnowledgeHut

Process/Skill Questions:

• Why is it important to determine the root cause of a problem, rather than just treating the symptoms?
• How can determining the how and why of the problem be more productive than assigning blame to the who?