Root Cause Analysis Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental terms in root cause analysis.

Problem

The issue or undesirable outcome that needs to be understood.

Symptom

A visible sign of a problem, but not necessarily its underlying cause.

Cause

A factor that contributes to a problem occurring.

Root Cause

The underlying reason a problem occurs and continues to occur.

Contributing Factor

A condition that makes the problem more likely or more severe.

Evidence

Information or data used to support a conclusion about what caused the problem.

Five Whys

A questioning technique that repeatedly asks “why?” to uncover deeper causes.

Fishbone Diagram

A visual tool used to organize and explore possible causes of a problem.

Causal Relationship

A connection in which one factor actually influences or produces another.

Corrective Action

A change made to address the root cause and prevent the problem from recurring.