Once investigators have completed the Discovery phase, the next step is to move into Root Cause Analysis (RCA). This step focuses on understanding not just what happened, but why it happened — and how to prevent similar events in the future.
To begin, users click the “Assess Root Cause” button at the top of the investigation record.
Choose a Methodology
After initiating RCA, the system will prompt users to select a root cause methodology. Serenity currently supports two industry-standard options:
Event and Causal Factor Analysis
Create a chronological timeline of events that occurred before, during, and after the incident. This method is ideal for detailed investigations involving multiple actions or decisions.
Fishbone Analysis (Ishikawa)
Group contributing factors into visual causal factor categories such as Human Factors, Equipment, Process, and more. This format helps teams quickly see patterns and categorize causes using a classic fishbone diagram.
📝 Tip: Organizations can configure the available cause categories used in Fishbone Analysis (see Causal Factor Categories in Configuration).
Performing Root Cause Analysis
Once a methodology is selected, the corresponding root cause analysis tab will appear, allowing the investigator to:
Add events or causal factor categories
Identify causes related to specific categories (Fishbone) or timeline events (Event/Causal)
Drill down into underlying causes and root causes until the primary cause is identified.
What’s Next?
When the root cause has been clearly documented and contributing factors are confirmed, the investigation can advance into the Recommendations stage — where follow-up actions can be proposed and tracked.