ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss the elusive answer to “What Is Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?” Depending on who you ask, you will most certainly get a different answer. We provide and explain our definition of RCA to allow the reader to decide if it meets their needs. We go on to describe a summary of the PROACT® Investigation Management System and its five steps: (1) preserving evidence, (2) organizing the team, (3) analyzing the event, (4) communicating findings and recommendations, and (5) tracking for bottom-line results. Mostly any investigative occupation will have similar steps. This is followed up by a higher-level discussion about “root systems” and understanding the differences and correlations between physical, human, and latent root causes. Finally, we conclude with the differences between what we consider RCA to be versus Shallow Cause Analysis.
