2 docs tagged with "rca"

Distinguishing between proximate cause (the immediate trigger of an outcome) and root cause (the underlying systemic factor that enabled it) is the foundation of effective problem-solving. Addressing only proximate causes produces temporary fixes; addressing root causes produces lasting change. This distinction — central to root cause analysis, engineering post-mortems, and policy design — determines whether interventions prevent recurrence or merely manage symptoms.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic process for identifying the fundamental causes of problems — not just their symptoms — so that interventions prevent recurrence rather than merely resolving the immediate incident. Developed in industrial safety and quality management, RCA has become standard practice in healthcare, software engineering, aviation, and organisational management for post-incident learning.