A Support Process Area at Maturity Level 5

The purpose of Causal Analysis and Resolution (CAR) is to identify causes of defects and other problems and take action to prevent them from occurring in the future.

The Causal Analysis and Resolution process area involves the following activities:

·         Identifying and analyzing causes of defects and other problems

·         Taking actions to remove causes and prevent the occurrence of those types of defects and problems in the future

Causal analysis and resolution improves quality and productivity by preventing the introduction of defects into a product. Reliance on detecting defects after they have been introduced is not cost effective. It is more effective to prevent defects from being introduced by integrating causal analysis and resolution activities into each phase of the project.

Since similar defects and problems may have been previously encountered on other projects or in earlier phases or tasks of the current project, causal analysis and resolution activities are a mechanism for communicating lessons learned among projects.

Types of defects and other problems encountered are analyzed to identify trends. Based on an understanding of the defined process and how it is implemented, root causes of defects and future implications of defects are determined.

Causal analysis may also be performed on problems unrelated to defects. For example, causal analysis may be used to improve coordination and cycle time with one supplier or multiple suppliers.

When it is impractical to perform causal analysis on all defects, defect targets are selected by tradeoffs on estimated investments and estimated returns of quality, productivity, and cycle time.

A measurement process should already be in place. Already defined measures can be used, though in some instances new measures may be needed to analyze the effects of the process change.

Refer to the Measurement and Analysis process area for more information about establishing objectives for measurement and analysis, specifying measures and analyses to be performed, obtaining and analyzing measures, and reporting results.

Causal Analysis and Resolution activities provide a mechanism for projects to evaluate their processes at the local level and look for improvements that can be implemented.

Causal Analysis and Resolution activities also include the evaluation of acquirer processes that interface with supplier processes, as appropriate. A jointly-performed causal analysis may lead to such improvement actions as the supplier improving its processes to more effectively execute in the context of the project or the acquirer improving its supplier interfaces.

When improvements are judged to be effective, the information is extended to the organizational level.

Refer to the Organizational Innovation and Deployment process area for more information about improving organizational level processes through proposed improvements and action proposals.

The informative material in this process area is written assuming that the specific practices are applied to a quantitatively managed process. The specific practices of this process area may be applicable, but with reduced value, if this assumption is not met.

See the definitions of “stable process” and “common cause of process variation” in the glossary.

Refer to the Quantitative Project Management process area for more information about analyzing process performance and determining process capability.

Refer to the Organizational Innovation and Deployment process area for more information about the selection and deployment of improvements to organizational processes and technologies.

Refer to the Measurement and Analysis process area for more information about establishing objectives for measurement and analysis, specifying the measures and analyses to be performed, obtaining and analyzing measures, and reporting results.

Specific Goal and Practice Summary

SG 1 Determine Causes of Defects

SP 1.1       Select Defect Data for Analysis

SP 1.2       Analyze Causes

SG 2 Address Causes of Defects

SP 2.1       Implement Action Proposals

SP 2.2       Evaluate the Effect of Changes

SP 2.3       Record Data