Examples of when to perform causal analysis include the following:

·       When a stable subprocess does not meet its specified quality and process-performance objectives

·       When more defects than anticipated escape from earlier phases to the current phase

·       When a work product exhibits an unexpected deviation from its requirements

Examples of methods to determine root causes include the following:

·       Cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagrams

·       Check sheets

Examples of cause groups, or categories, include the following:

·       Inadequate training and skills

·       Inadequate resource allocation

·       Breakdown of communication

·       Not accounting for all details of a task

·       Making mistakes in manual procedures (e.g., typing)

·       Process deficiency

·       Incomplete, ambiguous, or unclear contractual requirements

·       Ineffective management of changes to the supplier agreement

Examples of proposed actions include changes to the following:

·       The process in question

·       Training

·       Tools

·       Methods

·       Communication

·       Work products

Examples of actions include the following:

·       Providing training in common problems and techniques for preventing them

·       Changing a process so that error-prone steps do not occur

·       Automating all or part of a process

·       Reordering process activities

·       Adding process steps to prevent defects, such as task kickoff meetings to review common defects and actions to prevent them

An action proposal usually documents the following:

·       Originator of the action proposal

·       Description of the problem

·       Description of the defect cause

·       Defect cause category

·       Phase when the problem was introduced

·       Phase when the defect was identified

·       Description of the action proposal

·       Action proposal category