Which term is an analytical technique used to determine the basic underlying cause of a variance or defect?

• A. Root Cause Analysis
• B. Process Mapping
• C. SWOT Analysis
• D. Fishbone Diagram

Answer: (A)

Root Cause Analysis is the analytical process designed to uncover the fundamental reason a variance or defect occurred, guiding efforts to prevent recurrence rather than just treating the symptom. In quality and patient safety work, the aim is to look beyond the immediate error to contributing factors across people, processes, equipment, and environment, and then implement changes that address the root cause. Tools commonly used within this approach, such as the Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa) or the 5 Whys method, help organize potential causes and drill down to the underlying issue. Process mapping shows the sequence of steps to identify where problems may arise, but by itself it doesn’t pinpoint the root cause. SWOT analysis, meanwhile, is about strategic planning and not about diagnosing defects.