Root cause analysis in Testing Fundamentals - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?

Root Cause Analysis is a method used to find the main reason why a problem happened, so it can be fixed and prevented in the future.

beginner

Name one common tool used in Root Cause Analysis.

The Fishbone Diagram (also called Ishikawa Diagram) is a common tool that helps organize possible causes of a problem visually.

beginner

Why is it important to focus on the root cause rather than the symptoms?

Fixing only symptoms may stop the problem temporarily, but the issue can come back. Fixing the root cause stops the problem from happening again.

beginner

What is the '5 Whys' technique in Root Cause Analysis?

The '5 Whys' is a simple method where you ask 'Why?' five times in a row to dig deeper and find the root cause of a problem.

beginner

How does Root Cause Analysis help improve software quality?

By finding and fixing the main cause of bugs or failures, RCA helps prevent repeated errors, making software more reliable and easier to maintain.

What is the main goal of Root Cause Analysis?

A To ignore the problem and move on

B To fix the problem quickly without investigation

C To blame a team member for the error

D To find the main reason behind a problem

Root Cause Analysis aims to find the main reason behind a problem so it can be fixed properly.

Which tool helps visualize possible causes of a problem in RCA?

A Bar Graph

B Pie Chart

C Fishbone Diagram

D Scatter Plot

The Fishbone Diagram organizes possible causes visually, making it easier to analyze.

What does the '5 Whys' technique involve?

A Asking 'Why?' multiple times to find the root cause

B Asking 'What?' five times to list problems

C Counting five problems before fixing

D Ignoring the first four causes

The '5 Whys' technique digs deeper by repeatedly asking 'Why?' to uncover the root cause.

Why should you fix the root cause instead of just symptoms?

A Because fixing root cause prevents the problem from returning

B Because fixing symptoms stops the problem forever

C Because symptoms are not important

D Because root cause is easier to find

Fixing the root cause stops the problem from happening again, unlike just fixing symptoms.

How does Root Cause Analysis improve software testing?

A By ignoring bugs and focusing on new features

B By finding and fixing main causes of bugs to prevent repeats

C By testing only the user interface

D By skipping test cases

RCA helps testers find main causes of bugs and fix them to improve software quality.

Explain what Root Cause Analysis is and why it is important in software testing.

Think about how fixing the main problem helps avoid future bugs.

Describe two common techniques or tools used in Root Cause Analysis.

One tool is a visual diagram, the other is a question method.