how can you Determine all root causes of failures or problems?

Question

what decisions should be made thereafter ?

Answer 1

It may NEVER be possible to determine ALL root causes of failures. The best we can do is a thourough examination of conditions at the time of failure, and an extrapolation of events leading up to it, in order to determine the MOST LIKELY causes.

For example, an investigation may determine that a crack in the casting of a metal part probably caused the collapse of a building. But many other, less significant conditions determined why the failure occured at that, particular moment, such as temperature, installation errors, vibrations at the time of failure, etc.

Who knows how many "near misses," or potential disasters are pending, right now, because the major, root cause has not, yet, been triggered? Think of all the aircraft, near miss, incidents occuring each year. Experts are, already, talking about, and working on the solutions to these problems, because they "know" the main, root, causes. Failures (crashes) are still rare, but, decisions are, now, being made to help minimize actual problems. That still does not mean that system, like air travel, will ever be 100% error free.

Note to "whyyesid": Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, through his character of Sherlock Holmes, said it, almost one hundred years before Mr. Spock. I'm guessing that Doyle may have borrowed the phrase from some, earlier work.

Answer 2

Root causes of every problem are different and its has an independent reasons - It can't be similar or even its extent differs from one instances to another so there is no specific parameter to determine the root cause.
Every problem has its own root cause and reason of its failure. We determine the ways and means to sort out the problem and be stick to the models & modus operandi which we determine before start the project.
We take initiative and go ahed for the Project (which we prepares), if the projects goes successful its okay or if it goes fail then the same determined 'method & procedure' we explore again and thoroughly it is examined so that the the reason of failure could be ascertaind and evaluated.

The determined parameter is checked with different directions, and possibilties, its merits and de merits, its impact in present and future all such things are proportionated in detail. Every pros and cons are fully judged and assessed & weighted to re start the project to avoid any further failure.
But to note that from every 'failure' you learn a lot of things, it opens more room and provides opportunity to rectify the error so that reasons of failure can easily be corrected in more efficient and timely manner to avoid any major loss.
Failure and success is the concomitant and it flourishes parallel, like sweet and sour, like happiness and sadness so opposite segements also plays a very productive roll to determine the policy.
However there is no permanent parameter for not to get loss or failure despite shock proof, bullet proof, business continuity plan or disaster recovery plan the project goes failure. It does not mean that things were not considered rather every thing and possbility were taken into consideration but it failed.
So practically or to determine root cause perspective every project manager makes a concrete policy and takes all hinderence in his plan, an indepth studies are also made to avoid any loss or with maximum safety and security the projects are secured.
In short decision also goes changes as time permits or situation allows you. So you can't with certainty that decision had been taken so why the project went failure. As I mentioned every loss open your eyes and brings more solution with more intensity and substantial treatment to curb or cope over the impending issues.

Answer 3

you don't have to determine it. It is obvious. Mistakes are the root cause of failures.

Answer 4

In this case, I believe that you can only discern pointers to the causes, not the causes themselves.

Answer 5

remember what Spock said.
when you eliminate all possibilities, whatever is left, however improbable must be the truth.

Answer 6

self-reflection