What is the proper sequence in a root cause analysis after an incident?

What is the proper sequence in a root cause analysis after an incident?

• A. Conduct a root cause analysis by gathering evidence, reconstructing events, identifying systemic vs human error, developing corrective actions, and verifying effectiveness.
• B. Immediately terminate the investigation.
• C. Blame a single person and implement a minor change.
• D. Publish a summary to the public.

Answer: (A)

An incident investigation should follow an evidence-based, systemic approach: start by gathering evidence and reconstructing events to establish what happened and when, which builds a solid factual foundation. Next, analyze the causes to distinguish systemic factors from human error, so the focus is on underlying weaknesses rather than blaming individuals. Then develop corrective actions that address those root causes, implement them, and finally verify their effectiveness to confirm that the changes prevent recurrence. The other options skip essential steps, promote blame, or focus on public disclosure without completing a structured, effective fix.

An incident investigation should follow an evidence-based, systemic approach: start by gathering evidence and reconstructing events to establish what happened and when, which builds a solid factual foundation. Next, analyze the causes to distinguish systemic factors from human error, so the focus is on underlying weaknesses rather than blaming individuals. Then develop corrective actions that address those root causes, implement them, and finally verify their effectiveness to confirm that the changes prevent recurrence. The other options skip essential steps, promote blame, or focus on public disclosure without completing a structured, effective fix.