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Root Cause Analysis training by Sologic provides the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to solve complex problems in any sector, within any discipline, and of any scale.Learn More
SOFTWARE
Sologic’s Causelink has the right software product for you and your organization. Single users may choose to install the software locally or utilize the cloud. Our flagship Enterprise-scale software is delivered On Premise or as SaaS in the cloud.Learn More
The premise of cause and effect analysis is that effects are generally the result of multiple causes that combine at a single moment in time. A cause and effect analysis chart visually presents these ‘causal sets’ along with their logical relationships with subsequent causes. By revealing these causal sets we step ever closer to the root causes (note the plural) of a problem.
Cause & Effect Example Diagram
In the diagram below we are starting to investigate the causes of a fire. A fire has three primary causes:
- Oxygen
- Combustible Material
- Ignition Source
Each cause is necessary in order for the fire to exist. And the group of causes together is sufficient to cause a fire – nothing else is needed. This makes them a ‘causal set’
Each of the causes of the fire has subsequent causes as well. It can all become quite confusing – therefore we employ a cause and effect chart to help us keep track.
Each off the causes identified above also has its own individual causes. Theoretically, the cause and effect chart for even a simple event is limitless. But in practice, we choose to limit branches when we believe no additional value will be found in continuing a line of questioning.
In the example above, the Oxygen ‘cause-branch’ would likely end because there is usually no utility in continuing further. Although, if the fire took place in the vapor space of a petrol storage tank that was supposed to be free of oxygen, we would absolutely continue to investigate the source of the oxygen.
In most instances we would want to know why Combustible Material was present and what caused the adequate Ignition Source. These are areas that may indeed have multiple causes and sub-causes and therfore multiple opportunities for interventions to act as solutions in order to prevent a fire of this nature taking place again.
Cause & Effect Example Video
Watch this short video for a further explanation of how to understand cause and effect and create brilliant cause and effect charts.
The Benefits of Cause & Effect Charting
- Establishes as visual relationship between causes, effects, evidence and solutions.
- Reveals multiple causes from diverse sources
- Allows the rapid review of complex events
- The logical steps reveal previously overlooked or hidden causes
- Takes focus off of actions by people by revealing other contributing factors
- Makes the quality of evidence visible
Click HERE to learn more about Cause and Effect in Root Cause Analysis
RCA TRAINING
Root Cause Analysis training by Sologic provides the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to solve complex problems in any sector, within any discipline, and of any scale.Learn More
SOFTWARE
Sologic’s Causelink has the right software product for you and your organization. Single users may choose to install the software locally or utilize the cloud. Our flagship Enterprise-scale software is delivered On Premise or as SaaS in the cloud.Learn More