Who this is for: Needs Manage Root Cause.
Root Cause Category becomes required as soon as you have filled in a method — you cannot save the analysis without one. The list is configured by your administrator and grouped:
Group | Example categories |
Process & Procedure | No procedure in place · Procedure inadequate or out of date · Non-compliance with procedure |
Monitoring & Review | Insufficient monitoring or review |
Management & Leadership | Lack of management oversight · Poor communication |
People & Training | Training gap · Competency not assessed · Human error |
Equipment & Environment | Equipment failure · Inadequate maintenance · Environmental conditions |
Other | Resource constraints · External factor |
Why the category matters. The narrative analysis explains one finding. The category is what makes root causes countable. Reports rank your most common root cause categories, which is how you find out that a third of your findings are training gaps — something no individual analysis would tell you.
Pick the closest category even when the fit is imperfect. Consistency beats precision here.
The categories themselves, which methods auditors can use, and whether the analysis can be skipped are all set in Audit Settings → Records & Findings.
Related: 10.3 Managing root cause categories · 9.9 Audit reports