Strategy
Root Cause
Plain English
It is the real reason the problem is happening underneath the surface.
Definition
A root cause is the underlying reason a problem exists, as distinct from the symptom it presents as. Removing it stops the problem recurring; addressing only the symptom means meeting the same issue somewhere else.
In practice
Used to move beyond surface symptoms.
In context
It is usually two or three questions past where the investigation stops. The form is broken is a symptom; the reason it was built that way is the cause.
The reality
If missed, the same issue returns.
Compared with
Root Cause vs Symptom
A symptom is what you observe. The root cause is what produces it and, if removed, stops it recurring. Fixing symptoms is faster and is why the same issue reappears in a different place next quarter.
Related Services
Related Guides
Related Terms
