Root cause analysis template

Problems can appear differently for each team member, depending on their role in the company. Focusing on why a problem occurred rather than who was at fault helps build trust and ensures the entire team takes responsibility for resolving issues.

To create a problem statement describing how a problem occurred, you must ask why it happened, what caused it, what conditions contributed to it, and whether there were any other contributing factors. Continue asking questions until the team has asked “Why?” at least five times to examine the problem from every angle.

When creating a problem statement or generating actionable solutions, seeing the problem from different perspectives helps facilitate curiosity and exploration. The root cause analysis template provides a framework for conversations that lead to a deeper understanding of the cause and conditions under which the problem occurred. 

A consistent process for addressing problems, such as a root cause analysis template, allows teams to address problems more efficiently and remain focused on relevant information. By including root cause analysis as an expected project activity, you speed-document resolution and improve clarity for everyone on the team.

Brainstorming ideas is important for the team to generate multiple solutions and offer actionable suggestions. When the team agrees on a solution, document how to implement it and who will take responsibility, discuss potential roadblocks, and estimate a timeline for resolving the problem.

Root cause analysis is easier with Confluence because it provides distributed and colocated teams alike with a collaborative platform for sharing ideas and solving problems. Confluence facilitates a single source of truth to capture problem statements, record answers, and decide on actionable solutions. With @ mentions and other quick inline actions, you can tag team members, pull your decisions into tasks, and track them to resolution.