BMAD-METHOD/bmad-core/tasks/root-cause-analysis.md

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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
1. Clearly state the problem/symptom
2. Define when it occurs (timing, frequency)
3. Define where it occurs (component, environment)
4. 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:
1. Ask "Why does this happen?"
2. For each answer, ask "Why?" again
3. Continue until reaching the root cause (typically 5 iterations)
4. 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
```markdown
# 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