RCA RCA Problem Definition 2

Question 1

What is the purpose of 'scoping' an RCA investigation?

Accepted Answer

To set boundaries on what will and will not be investigated

Answer

To delay the investigation until all data is available

Answer

To select which team members are responsible for failures

Answer

To estimate the cost of corrective actions

Question 2

In RCA, what distinguishes a 'symptom' from a 'root cause'?

Accepted Answer

A symptom is a visible effect of the problem; a root cause is the fundamental reason it occurred

Answer

A symptom is the desired outcome; a root cause is the actual outcome

Answer

A symptom can be corrected; a root cause cannot

Answer

A symptom occurs rarely; a root cause occurs frequently

Question 3

Which question format best helps teams avoid treating symptoms as root causes during problem definition?

Accepted Answer

What would have to be true for this problem NOT to occur?

Answer

How much did this problem cost?

Answer

Who was responsible for the failure?

Answer

When did the failure happen?

Question 4

What is the role of 'baseline data' when defining an RCA problem?

Accepted Answer

To establish what normal performance looks like so deviations can be measured

Answer

To set the salary benchmark for RCA investigators

Answer

To document all corrective actions ever taken

Answer

To provide a list of approved vendors

Question 5

In RCA, why should a problem statement avoid words like 'probably' or 'apparently'?

Accepted Answer

They introduce assumptions and bias before evidence is gathered

Answer

They make the statement too long

Answer

They are grammatically incorrect in formal reports

Answer

They offend team members who are named in the statement

Question 6

What does the 'Is Not' column in an Is/Is Not problem definition help investigators understand?

Accepted Answer

What conditions, locations, or timeframes were NOT affected, to narrow the cause

Answer

Which corrective actions have already been tried

Answer

Which employees were not on duty during the incident

Answer

Which machines were not inspected