70 Types of Root Cause

John Spacey, updated on July 06, 2023

Root cause is the initial, fundamental or underlying cause of an incident, problem or outcome. This addresses the tendency for failures to have both obvious causes and deeper causes that require analysis to uncover. It is common for problem solving and root cause analysis to determine both a direct cause and a root cause for each problem. These can be one-and-the-same but often analysis determines a unique root cause. The following are common types of root cause.

Insufficient training	Insufficient maintenance
Incorrect maintenance procedures	Poor communication
Insufficient tools	Inadequate supervision
Human error	Latent human error
Equipment failure	Design flaws
Data quality issues	System failure
Integration failure	Misinterpretation of data
Procedural errors	Lack of procedures
Lack of process	Process flaws
Software defects	Inadequate documentation
Environmental factors	Unclear roles
Lack of authority	Lack of accountability
Poor user interfaces	Lack of planning
Workflow flaws	Inaccurate measurements
Incorrect configuration	Cultural factors
Inadequate feedback mechanisms	Incorrect analysis
Lack of precision and accuracy	Lack of testing
Test scripts flawed or insufficient	Change control failures
Supply failures	Infrastructure failures
Disasters and other major disruptions	Inadequate inspection
Inadequate logging	Insufficient monitoring
Lack of notifications	Lack of ownership
Insufficient capacity	Insufficient durability
Management failure	Quality assurance failure
Insufficient quality control	Improper installation
Improper calibration	Process was not followed
Procedures were not followed	Issues were not escalated
Inadequate troubleshooting	Equipment unfit for purpose
Equipment operated beyond service life	Software operated beyond end-of-support
Failure to recognize warning signs	Failure to investigate notifications
Wrong parts or components used	Wear and tear
Insufficient error handling	Poor architectural design
Ineffective version control	Flawed deployment practices
Over-automation – human checks required	Lack of automation
Unmanaged risk	Insufficient risk controls

It is important not to confuse human error and latent human error such as insufficient processes that would reasonably catch error that are likely to occur.

Next: Examples of Root Cause

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