About this session
When something goes wrong at work, the fastest explanation is often the most tempting: someone made a mistake, a system failed, a customer did something unexpected, communication broke down.
Acting immediately can feel decisive, but fixing the visible symptom or accepting the first explanation may allow the same problem to return in a different form.
Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation gives participants a structured way to slow down the reasoning without slowing down necessary action.
They learn to define exactly what happened, separate observed facts from assumptions, establish the scope and impact of the problem and gather evidence before committing to a cause.
Participants then use several investigation techniques to explore causal relationships. These may include timelines, process maps, Five Whys, cause-and-effect analysis, change analysis, barrier analysis and other appropriate methods.
The goal is not to force every problem into one technique or assume there is always one single root cause. Complex workplace problems may involve several interacting causes and contributing conditions.
The final stage connects diagnosis with action.
Participants test whether proposed causes are supported by evidence, distinguish corrective actions from actions that merely contain the immediate problem and create measures showing whether the intervention actually reduces recurrence.
The emphasis throughout is on learning and system improvement rather than blame.
What your people take away
- Define the problem precisely before investigating causes
- Gather evidence and reconstruct what happened without confusing assumptions with facts
- Use several root-cause and causal-analysis techniques appropriately
- Distinguish symptoms, direct causes, root causes and contributing conditions
- Verify causal hypotheses before committing to corrective action
- Design and monitor corrective actions that address causes rather than symptoms
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Define the Problem & Build the EvidenceA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Define the Problem & Build the Evidence: define what actually happened, separate facts from assumptions and reconstruct the event or process.
- Define what actually happened
- Separate facts from assumptions
- Reconstruct the event or process
Covers 3 of 4 points in Define the Problem & Build the Evidence.
60 minutes
Root Cause Analysis EssentialsA focused introduction to structured problem investigation. Participants define a problem, separate evidence from assumptions, build a simple causal chain and identify what should be verified before corrective action is selected.
- Problem vs. symptom
- Problem statements
- Facts vs. assumptions
- Timeline thinking
- Five Whys
- Cause vs. contributing factor
- Cause verification
- Corrective Action Quick Map
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Define the Problem & Build the Evidence.
90 minutes
Investigate Problems SystematicallyThe extended session moves from problem definition through evidence gathering, causal mapping, Five Whys, cause-and-effect analysis and verification. Participants apply the process to a realistic workplace problem and design stronger corrective actions.
- Problem definition
- Investigation scope
- Evidence classification
- Timeline reconstruction
- Process mapping
- Five Whys
- Cause-and-effect mapping
- Change analysis
- Barrier analysis
- Causal hypotheses
- Cause verification
- Corrective action design
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Define the Problem & Build the Evidence and Explore the Causal System.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Define the Problem & Build the Evidence, Explore the Causal System and Verify the Causes Before You Fix Them.
Full day
Root Cause Investigation LabA hands-on full-day workshop covering all four modules. Participants investigate a realistic workplace problem from initial problem statement through evidence, causal analysis, cause verification, corrective-action design and effectiveness planning.
- Module 1 — Define the Problem & Build the Evidence
- Module 2 — Explore the Causal System
- Module 3 — Verify the Causes Before You Fix Them
- Module 4 — Design Corrective Actions & Prevent Recurrence
- Problem Definition Clinic
- Timeline Reconstruction
- Expected vs. Actual Process Mapping
- Evidence Quality Review
- Five Whys Analysis
- Cause-and-Effect Mapping
- Change Analysis
- Barrier / Control Review
- Causal Hypothesis Builder
- Cause Verification Matrix
- Corrective Action Design
- Effectiveness Measure Planning
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week or 8-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Define the Problem & Build the Evidence
Every length- Define what actually happenedParticipants build a precise problem statement describing what occurred, where, when, how frequently and with what impact instead of beginning with an assumed cause.
- Separate facts from assumptionsEarly explanations often become embedded in the investigation before they have been tested.
- Reconstruct the event or processParticipants use timelines, process maps and sequence reconstruction to understand what happened before, during and after the problem.
- Define the investigation boundaryA problem can be investigated too narrowly, missing systemic contributors, or so broadly that the analysis becomes unmanageable.
Explore the Causal System
90 minutes and longer- Look beyond the immediate triggerThe event closest to the failure is not necessarily the deepest actionable cause.
- Use Five Whys as one investigation toolParticipants use Five Whys to move beyond surface explanations by repeatedly asking what caused or enabled the previous condition.
- Map multiple causal factorsParticipants use cause-and-effect or fishbone-style mapping to explore categories such as process, people, tools, information, environment, materials, policies or management conditions where relevant.
- Examine changes, barriers & conditionsSome problems become clearer by asking what changed, which expected barrier failed or which condition differed from normal operation.
Verify the Causes Before You Fix Them
3 hours and longer- Turn possible causes into testable hypothesesA cause map generates possibilities; it does not prove them.
- Test cause–effect relationshipsParticipants compare timing, recurrence patterns, process evidence, data, observations and relevant examples to determine whether the proposed factor can credibly explain the problem.
- Distinguish root & contributing causesComplex incidents may contain several causes rather than one final answer.
- Avoid stopping at human errorA statement such as 'the employee forgot' may describe what occurred without explaining why the system allowed the error to happen or reach the outcome.
Design Corrective Actions & Prevent Recurrence
Full day only- Match the action to the verified causeCorrective action should have an explicit connection to the cause it is intended to address.
- Choose stronger controlsParticipants compare interventions according to how directly they reduce the likelihood or consequence of recurrence.
- Assign owners, timing & dependenciesActions fail when ownership is vague or implementation dependencies remain invisible.
- Verify that the fix workedClosing an action is not the same as demonstrating effectiveness.
Tools and materials
- Problem Definition Canvas
- Evidence & Timeline Map
- Expected vs. Actual Process Map
- Five Whys Analysis
- Cause-and-Effect Map
- Change & Barrier Review
- Causal Hypothesis Builder
- Cause Verification Matrix
- Cause-to-Action Matrix
- Investigation Quality Audit
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation
How long is Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation?
Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Define the Problem & Build the Evidence: define what actually happened, separate facts from assumptions and reconstruct the event or process. A 60-minute session covers Define the Problem & Build the Evidence in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Explore the Causal System. A 3-hour session adds Verify the Causes Before You Fix Them. A full-day session adds Design Corrective Actions & Prevent Recurrence. It is also available as a 4-week or 8-week program.
Can Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Root Cause Analysis & Problem Investigation to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.