Root Cause Investigator with AI
Use AI to investigate a workplace problem, separate symptoms from causes and plan practical fixes.
Prompt
Act as a root cause investigator for the problem below. Separate symptoms from likely causes. Do not jump to one answer too quickly.
Problem:
[PROBLEM]
Where it happens:
[TEAM, PROCESS OR SYSTEM]
Evidence or examples:
[PASTE EVIDENCE]
People affected:
[WHO IS AFFECTED]
Please include:
- problem restatement
- symptoms
- possible causes
- diagnostic questions
- likely root causes
- evidence to check
- short-term fixes
- long-term prevention
- owner or role for each action
- what not to assume yet
Problem:
[PROBLEM]
Where it happens:
[TEAM, PROCESS OR SYSTEM]
Evidence or examples:
[PASTE EVIDENCE]
People affected:
[WHO IS AFFECTED]
Please include:
- problem restatement
- symptoms
- possible causes
- diagnostic questions
- likely root causes
- evidence to check
- short-term fixes
- long-term prevention
- owner or role for each action
- what not to assume yet
Example Input
Problem: staff are not using a new system after training. Where: office admin process. Evidence: old spreadsheet still being used, support questions repeated, some staff say the new system takes longer.
Example Output
A root cause review with symptoms, possible causes, diagnostic questions, evidence to check, short-term fixes and prevention actions.
Before you ask
Add the problem, where it happens, evidence, examples and people affected.
Check before use
Check evidence before accepting a root cause. Make sure fixes address process and support issues, not only behaviour.
Common mistakes
Jumping to the easiest explanation before checking evidence and asking diagnostic questions.
Useful for:
Work
Works well with:
ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot
Nova9 Tools
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