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Scrum Rise LLC
Scrum Rise LLC

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What's your problem?

Have You Ever Chased Your Own Tail? How to Find the Real Problem to Solve

In business and tech, it’s all too common to feel like you’re chasing your own tail — repeatedly solving symptoms without ever getting to the root cause of an issue. This not only wastes time but often leads to more expensive fixes down the line.

So, how do you break the cycle and find the real problem to solve?

Why Finding the Root Cause Matters

Imagine your team keeps fixing bugs in a software feature, but the same issue keeps popping up. If you only treat the symptoms (the bugs), you’ll be stuck in an endless loop. The real underlying problem could be a process gap, unclear requirements, or a miscommunication with stakeholders.

Without identifying this root cause, your efforts are just patchwork, and costs escalate because the issue persists or worsens.

The Power of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a structured approach to uncover the fundamental reason why a problem occurs. Instead of jumping to solutions, RCA helps you dig deep into the issue’s origins, so your fixes address the cause — not just the effect.

The 5 Whys Technique: Simple But Effective

One of the most accessible RCA tools is the 5 Whys approach. I have used it and continue to use it every week. It’s straightforward:

  • Start with the problem statement.
  • Ask “Why?” it happened.
  • For each answer, ask “Why?” again — repeat about five times or until you reach the root cause.

For example:

Problem: The app crashes when users upload files.

  • Why? Because the file size exceeds the limit.
  • Why? Because the file size validation is missing in the upload module.
  • Why? Because the requirements didn’t specify file size limits.
  • Why? Because the product team wasn’t clear on file size expectations.
  • Why? Because of lack of stakeholder communication during planning.

Once you identify the root cause — in this case, communication gaps — you can implement solutions like clearer requirements and improved stakeholder alignment.

What Happens If You Don’t Find the Real Problem?

Ignoring root cause analysis is like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. The issue will resurface, possibly with higher costs and more impact. You might spend more money, time, and team energy fixing the same problem repeatedly — leading to frustration and lost opportunities.

Tips for Effective Problem Solving

  • Resist the urge to jump to solutions too quickly. Take time to investigate.
  • Use RCA techniques like 5 Whys or Fishbone diagrams.
  • Involve the right people who understand different parts of the problem. SME's and people who understand the real issue are a key to identifying the problem and solution.
  • Document your findings to prevent future recurrence - lessons learned is an essential effort to preventing future errors in the same umbrella.
  • Focus on process improvements, not just quick fixes - Kaizen non-stop, constant flow of communication only strengthens organizations.

Bio:

Leveraging 20+ years in Banking and FinTech, I empower enterprises and startups to achieve significant efficiency gains through strategic Agile and Scrum implementation. My experience includes leading global transformations and delivering up to 50% efficiency boosts for top financial institutions. Backed by industry-leading certifications, I combine deep Agile expertise with tech innovation to drive tangible results. Visit ScrumRise.com

Problems #Agile #Scrum #Kaizen

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