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root-cause-analysis

Focused root cause analysis using fishbone (Ishikawa) methodology.

Context

This task performs systematic root cause analysis to identify the underlying causes of defects, moving beyond symptoms to address fundamental issues.

Task Execution

Step 1: Problem Definition

Clearly state the problem/symptom
Define when it occurs (timing, frequency)
Define where it occurs (component, environment)
Quantify the impact (users affected, severity)

Step 2: Fishbone Analysis Categories

Analyze the problem across these dimensions:

People (Developer/User factors)

Knowledge gaps or misunderstandings
Communication breakdowns
Incorrect assumptions
User behavior patterns

Process (Development/Deployment)

Missing validation steps
Inadequate testing coverage
Deployment procedures
Code review gaps

Technology (Tools/Infrastructure)

Framework limitations
Library bugs or incompatibilities
Infrastructure issues
Tool configuration problems

Environment (System/Configuration)

Environment-specific settings
Resource constraints
External dependencies
Network or connectivity issues

Data (Input/State)

Invalid or unexpected input
Data corruption or inconsistency
State management issues
Race conditions

Methods (Algorithms/Design)

Algorithm flaws
Design pattern misuse
Architecture limitations
Performance bottlenecks

Step 3: 5-Whys Deep Dive

For each potential cause identified:

Ask "Why does this happen?"
For each answer, ask "Why?" again
Continue until reaching the root cause (typically 5 iterations)
Document the chain of causation

Step 4: Evidence Collection

For each identified root cause:

Gather supporting evidence (logs, code, metrics)
Verify through reproduction or testing
Rule out alternative explanations
Establish confidence level

Step 5: Root Cause Prioritization

Rank root causes by:

Likelihood (probability this is the true cause)
Impact (severity if this is the cause)
Effort (complexity to address)
Risk (potential for recurrence)

Output Format

# Root Cause Analysis: [Problem Description]

## Problem Statement

**What:** [Clear problem description]
**When:** [Timing/frequency]
**Where:** [Location/component]
**Impact:** [Quantified impact]

## Fishbone Analysis

### Category: [People/Process/Technology/Environment/Data/Methods]

**Potential Cause:** [Description]
**5-Whys Analysis:**

1. Why? [Answer]
2. Why? [Answer]
3. Why? [Answer]
4. Why? [Answer]
5. Why? [Root cause]

**Evidence:** [Supporting data/logs/code]
**Confidence:** [High/Medium/Low]

## Root Cause Summary

### Primary Root Cause

[Most likely root cause with evidence]

### Contributing Factors

1. [Secondary cause]
2. [Tertiary cause]

## Recommended Actions

1. **Immediate:** [Quick fix to address symptom]
2. **Short-term:** [Fix root cause]
3. **Long-term:** [Prevent recurrence]

## Verification Plan

[How to verify the root cause is correctly identified]

Completion Criteria

Problem clearly defined
Fishbone analysis completed
5-Whys analysis performed
Evidence collected and verified
Root cause identified with confidence level
Action plan created

3.2 KiB Raw Blame History