REPLY Definition of root cause (SD6820)

[SDMAIL John Gunkler]

Posted by  "John Gunkler" <jgunkler at sprintmail.com>

Root cause analysis is a foundation of the process improvement methodologies
(such as Six Sigma) in business.

I am not speaking authoritatively here, but it seems to me that what happens
in real life is that we stop looking for a root cause when ...
(1) We have found (at least) the fifth one [there's a method called the "5
Why's" that suggests you ask "Why?" at least five times, iteratively, before
accepting the answer.]
(2) We suspect that delving any deeper will not be productive; and
(3) We have arrived at something we can change that we're confident will
eliminate the problem(s) we're investigating.

Obviously, these are "principles of practice" not theoretical absolutes.
Perhaps they apply, in some form, to SD modeling as well(?)

[Parenthetically, I feel obligated to say that the one thing that makes me
most uncomfortable about the Six Sigma mindset is the assumption that there
is one root cause, and that changing one thing will solve a problem (without
unintended side effects.)  The good news is that the Six Sigma community is
rapidly discovering System Dynamics and there is a chance that feedback loop
thinking will prevail in the future.]

I can't help but be reminded of the charming story told about William James,
the philosopher and psychologist.  He gave lectures on science to lay
groups.  In some of them he talked about the force of gravity and how it
held the solar system together.  After one such lecture, a very self-assured
woman came up to him and said, "That was very interesting, Mr. James, but I
happen to know that the earth rests on the back of a giant tortoise."

Since she spoke so seriously, James answered politely, "But madam, upon what
does the giant tortoise rest?"

She just as confidently replied, "Why, upon the back of another giant
tortoise."

James began, "But madam ..." at which point she interrupted him with, "Give
it up, Mr. James, it's tortoises all the way down!"

John Gunkler
Posted by  "John Gunkler" <jgunkler at sprintmail.com>
posting date  Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:34:06 -0400