What is a Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?

A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is specifically a method used to identify the underlying causes of an incident. The primary goal of RCA is to understand why an incident occurred by diving deeper into the factors that contributed to it. This involves a systematic examination of the events and conditions leading up to the incident, which helps in uncovering hidden problems and weaknesses within processes, systems, or behaviors.

By identifying the root causes rather than just addressing the symptoms or immediate issues, organizations can implement solutions that prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. This proactive approach is essential in incident management as it enhances overall safety, efficiency, and performance.

Other options presented do not align with the purpose of RCA. Documenting incidents is a necessary activity but does not delve into causation; communication tools serve different functions and are more about information sharing; resolving issues without investigation limits understanding and learning, which is counterproductive to improving processes and preventing future incidents. Therefore, the correct understanding of RCA emphasizes a thorough analysis to protect and improve organizational practices.