root cause analysis

Process

There is no right or wrong answer regarding which tool to use for root cause analysis; it depends on what you are trying to do.

Frequently, the Fishbone and the 5 Whys are used together.

Starting with the initial data summary statement, the Fishbone is often used to brainstorm and organize a variety of potential contributing causes into categories/sub-categories.
The team then determines which category(ies) they want to investigate more deeply, and the 5 Whys is used to conduct the investigation and drill down to the root cause in one or more of the categories.
The group then decides which of the root causes to address in the challenge statement.
The tools can also be used in reverse, with the 5 Whys being used to drill down to a root cause and the Fishbone being used to identify various causes-and-effects for that root cause.

Utilized to better understand the WHY of either the identified performance success (asset) or the performance challenge (need)

Why might you be getting the successes or gaps you are experiencing?
How might your district’s systems be contributing to the successes or opportunities you are seeing?
How will your root cause analysis stay focused on the factors within your control or influence?
What other factors might there be that are indirectly related to your area of inquiry?
What data do you have to support your theories?

Overview of 5 Whys - click image below

Overview of Fishbone - click image below

Are other team members needed to bring additional expertise to the table for this conversation? Can team members make a commitment to be honest and accurate in their responses?
What group protocols might you use to ensure all voices are heard?
Have you considered data from across the four types (Achievement, Demographic, Perception, and Process)? Have you considered academic, non-academic, and systems data?
As you engage in the process, what additional data might help your analysis?
Have you addressed both assets and challenges as part of your process?

- Beginning with your Data Summary Statement, ask WHY and record a summary of the group’s response in the box.
- Click “Add WHY” to continue recording your analysis. Repeat as many times as necessary to get to systems level causation – it may be more or less than 5.
- Consider any additional data that would help your analysis. If pertinent, also consider adding it to your Data Story using the tab below the 5 Whys Protocol.
- Ask yourself whether the root cause on which you decide is something that is within your control to address. If not, consider repeating the process until you arrive at a root cause over which you do have control.

Are other team members needed to bring in additional expertise to the table for this conversation? Can team members make a commitment to be honest and accurate in their responses?
What group protocols might you use to ensure all voices are heard?
Have you considered data from across the four types (Achievement, Demographic, Perception, and System/Process)? Have you considered academic, non-academic, and systems data?
As you engage in the process, what additional data might help your analysis?
Have you addressed both assets and challenges as part of your process?

- Select the FISHBONE Analysis. Use the template linked in the Resources or on a large piece of paper or white board draw the fish head, spine, and tail.
- Write the Data Story Summary Statement in the head of the fish. Brainstorm all possible big idea contributing factors and draw those as bones connected to the spine. Add contributing factors to each of the big ideas as smaller bones attached to the larger bones. After you have discussed all contributing causes, identify the factor you think is the primary factor and write it in the tail. If needed, use the Five Whys to identify the root cause of that factor. This will be carried through to your challenge or opportunity for growth statement.
- Summarize the findings of your group analysis in the narrative box below the fish diagram.
- Upload documentation (scanned documents, photos, pdf, etc.) from your discussion.
- Upload any additional data considered in your analysis.

Are other team members needed to bring in additional expertise to the table for this conversation? Can team members make a commitment to be honest and accurate in their responses?
What group protocols might you use to ensure all voices are heard?
Have you considered data from across the four types (Achievement, Demographic, Perception, and System/Process)? Have you considered academic, non-academic, and systems data?
As you engage in the process, what additional data might help your analysis?
Have you addressed both assets and challenges as part of your process?

Select “Add Your Own.”
Provide a summary of your team’s root cause analysis.
Add documentation of your group analysis (scanned documents, photos, pdf, etc.).
Add any additional data your team considered in your analysis.

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