Root Cause Analysis Orchestration Skill

This skill helps you systematically identify the root cause of any problem using proven methodologies from the Toyota Production System and other industry-standard techniques.

Quick Reference: When to Load Which Resource

Your Problem Type	Load Resource	Why
Need to understand 5 Whys, Fishbone, Pareto, Fault Tree methodology	`resources/rca-methodologies.md`	Learn each method step-by-step with examples
Looking for common root causes in your domain	`resources/common-root-causes.md`	Pattern match against known causes: software, hardware, process, personal
Want to see complete worked examples	`resources/example-analyses.md`	Study real cases: software bugs, vehicle maintenance, system failures, personal problems
Advanced: need barrier analysis, complex cause mapping	`resources/advanced-techniques.md`	Formal methods: Fault Tree, Barrier Analysis, multi-methodology chains

Core Principle

Do not treat symptoms—find and fix the root cause. As Taiichi Ohno, architect of the Toyota Production System, said: "By repeating why five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear."

Orchestration Protocol

Phase 1: Problem Classification

Quickly identify your problem domain and complexity:

Problem Domain:

Software: Code bugs, system failures, performance, deployment
Hardware: Equipment, mechanical, electrical, maintenance
Process: Workflow, procedures, organizational, communication
Personal: Life challenges, productivity, habits, wellbeing

Complexity Level:

Simple: Clear failure chain, 1-2 likely causes → Use 5 Whys
Complex: Multiple possible causes, unknown scope → Start with Fishbone
Critical/Safety: High stakes, needs rigor → Use Fault Tree
Multiple Issues: Many competing problems → Use Pareto first

Action: Load appropriate resource file(s) based on classification.

Phase 2: Methodology Selection

Based on problem type, select your approach:

Situation	Recommended	Load
Single clear failure	5 Whys	methodologies.md
Complex/multiple possibilities	Fishbone → 5 Whys	methodologies.md
Competing priorities	Pareto → 5 Whys	methodologies.md
Safety/high-stakes	Fault Tree	advanced-techniques.md
Process breakdown	Barrier Analysis	advanced-techniques.md
Pattern matching	Common causes + 5 Whys	common-root-causes.md

Phase 3: Execution & Verification

During Analysis:

Define problem clearly (What/Where/When/Impact)
Gather evidence systematically
Apply selected methodology
Document reasoning at each step
Verify root cause with Forward/Backward tests

Before Finalizing:

Validate conclusion against evidence
Check for red flags (see common-root-causes.md)
Confirm actionability (can you fix this?)
Develop solutions addressing root cause

Problem Definition Framework

Create a clear problem statement before analysis:

Essential Elements:

What: Observable symptom (not assumed cause)
Where: Location/system/component affected
When: Timeline, frequency, pattern
Impact: Users/systems affected, severity

Example: "Users in EU region experience 3-5 second dashboard load delays during 9-11 AM UTC peak hours, affecting ~2,000 daily active users. Started after v2.4 deployment on Nov 18th."

Evidence Gathering (Go and See)

Follow Toyota's principle—collect facts, not opinions:

Key Evidence Sources:

Logs, metrics, monitoring data
Timeline of events and changes
System/code/configuration changes before problem
Environmental factors (load, traffic, season)
User reports and reproduction steps
System state before/during/after

RCA Methodologies

See resources/rca-methodologies.md for complete methodology guide.

Resource Files Summary

`resources/rca-methodologies.md`

Comprehensive methodology guide covering:

5 Whys: Step-by-step process with software examples
Fishbone Diagram: Structure, 6 M's categories, process
Pareto Analysis: Prioritization using 80/20 rule
Fault Tree Analysis: Top-down formal analysis
Barrier Analysis: Control failure examination
Structured 6-phase RCA process, domain-specific guidance, templates

`resources/common-root-causes.md`

Pattern reference catalog by domain:

Software Engineering: Code defects, configuration, dependencies, deployment
Hardware & Equipment: Mechanical, electrical, operational, maintenance
Process & Operations: Workflow, design, resources
Personal/Life: Health, habits, environment, skills
Red flags, recurring themes, pattern recognition

`resources/example-analyses.md`

Four worked examples with full analysis:

Software Bug: JWT authentication (5 Whys)
Vehicle Maintenance: Overheating (5 Whys)
System Failure: E-commerce checkout (Fishbone + 5 Whys)
Personal Productivity: Missed deadlines (Fishbone + 5 Whys)

`resources/advanced-techniques.md`

Formal methods for complex problems:

Fault Tree Analysis: Boolean logic, safety systems
Barrier Analysis: Control failures
Multi-Methodology Chains: Complex orchestration
Verification Frameworks: Comprehensive testing

How This Skill Works

Clarify your situation: Domain, observations, evidence, time
Recommend approach: Complexity analysis, methodology, resources
Guide through analysis: Problem statement, evidence, methodology, verification
Deliver output: Analysis, root cause, solutions, implementation

Quick Start: 5-Minute RCA

State problem (What/Where/When/Impact)
First Why: fact-based answer
Second Why: dig deeper
Third Why: dig deeper again
Verify: would fixing this prevent it?

Templates & Examples

5 Whys Template in resources/rca-methodologies.md
Fishbone Template in resources/rca-methodologies.md
Worked Examples in resources/example-analyses.md
Solution Structures in resources/example-analyses.md

Next Steps

Identify problem domain (software/hardware/process/personal)
Load appropriate resource from table above
Select methodology based on complexity
Follow step-by-step process in resource
Verify root cause (Forward/Backward tests)
Develop actionable solutions

Remember: Goal is systematic investigation—disciplined questioning until you reach a cause you can actually fix.

root-cause-analysis