What is a root cause analysis and which method is commonly used to identify underlying causes after an event?

• A. RCA is a process to identify root causes contributing to a failure; commonly uses techniques like the 5 Whys or fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram
• B. RCA is about assigning blame to individuals
• C. RCA is a clinical trial design
• D. RCA is a financial audit

Answer: (A)

Root cause analysis is a structured way to figure out the underlying factors that led to a failure or problem, with the aim of preventing recurrence by addressing systemic causes rather than just treating symptoms. Common tools include the 5 Whys, which digs deeper by repeatedly asking why something happened, and the fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, which visually organizes potential causes into categories to show how they contribute to the effect. This approach focuses on processes and systems, not on blaming individuals. So the description that RCA identifies root causes contributing to a failure and highlights these techniques is the best fit, while assigning blame, clinical trial design, or financial audits describe different activities.