What does Root Cause Analysis aim to identify?

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a method aimed at identifying the underlying factor that contributes to problems or issues within a process or system. The primary goal of RCA is to identify the specific cause of an issue so that it can be addressed and eliminated to prevent recurrence. This process involves investigating and analyzing problems thoroughly to pinpoint the fundamental reason why an issue occurred rather than just addressing its symptoms. By focusing on the cause, organizations can implement effective solutions that lead to lasting improvements.

In contrast, while the impact of a decision (the first option) is important for evaluating outcomes, it does not address the root cause of problems directly. Understanding stakeholders (the third option) is crucial for project management and communication but does not contribute to understanding the origins of issues. Lastly, identifying the resources needed (the fourth option) is often part of the planning process but is not the goal of Root Cause Analysis itself, which focuses specifically on identifying and eliminating the causal factors of problems.