This document discusses causes of failure through three key sections: 1) Attribution theory explains how we attribute outcomes to internal or external factors and how this affects future performance. 2) Root cause analysis provides steps to systematically identify underlying causes of problems. 3) Typical causes of failure are explored at human, technical, and organizational levels, including poor planning, lack of leadership, inadequate knowledge, people problems, and technical issues.
2. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
Content!
3. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
!
• Definitions: Attribution and attribution theory!
– Attribution theory: !
• Attribution theory attempts to categorise the reasons we give for failure and
success!
!
– Attribution:!
• Attribution can be defined as the perceived causes of events and behaviour!
– Effects:!
• Attribution of an event can affect future effort and performance!
4. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
!
• Attribution: Attribution can be dispositional or situational!
Attribution
(What causes a certain behaviour?)
Something within a person
(e.g. personality)
Behaviour is caused by something
outside (e.g. situation)
= internal attribution = external attribution
DISPOSITIONAL Attribution SITUATIONAL Attribution
5. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
!
• Weiner’s Attribution theory: Overview!
!
Effort
Ability
Luck
Task difficulty
Stability!
Internal! External!
Stable!Unstable!
Locus of causality!
7. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
!
• Weiner’s Attribution theory: Locus of causality can be divided in two
broad categories!
– Locus of causality!
• Internal causes!
• External causes!
!
• This dimension assesses the extent to which the reasons for success or
failure are due to the personal control of the performer!
• Internal reasons are within the performer's control and it is felt that some
personal influence may be exerted on the outcome. This affects the amount
of input and effort spent!
• External reasons are out of personal control and might exert little influence
in the future!
8. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
!
• Weiner’s Attribution theory: While some factors are fixed for a
certain time, others can change dramatically depending on the
situation!
– Locus of stability!
• Stable factors!
• Unstable factors!
!
• Stable reasons are based on past experience and are reasons for success
or failure that are unlikely to change in the short term. They are relatively
permanent!
• Unstable factors such as the own effort put in a task can change in the
short term even within the tasks - depending on the situation !
• If reasons can be changed, we might expect a different outcome next time
and continue to strive for improvement!
9. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• The attribution process: How we evaluate performance!
!
Performance of an action
Evaluation of outcome
General emotional response
Causal analysis (causality, stability, control)
Generation of specific emotional response
and future expectations
Subsequent behaviour
10. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
Content!
11. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root cause analysis: Steps towards a profound problem analysis…!
Seeing! Localizing! Specifying! Analysing!
Root Cause Analysis
12. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Definitions: Important terms around Root Cause Analysis (RCA)!
– Root Cause: !
• Underlying cause(s) of positive or negative symptoms within any process
that, if resolved, would eliminate or substantially reduce the symptom!
– Root Cause Analysis:!
• A tool used both reactively, to investigate an adverse event that already has
occurred, and proactively, to analyse and improve processes and systems
before they break down (Preuss, 2003)!
– Data Analysis:!
• the process of gathering, reviewing, and evaluating data!
– Symptom:!
• a gap between expectations and reality!
13. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Positive impacts of RCA!
– Problem identification!
• helps identify the problem or challenge!
– Problem solving!
• helps resolve the problem!
– Holistic!
• eliminates patching!
– Economical!
• Conserves resources!
– Constructive!
• leading facilitates discussion (to solutions)!
– Exculpatory!
• provides rationale for strategy selection!
14. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: The process of RCA!
Step 1: Organize Team
Step 2: Define Problem or Issue
Step 3: Conduct Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluate Progress
15. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 1 - Team and Management!
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
• Set up a management
plan
• Select the right team
members
• Clarify the duties of each
team member
• Clarify communication
procedures
• Set the timeframe,
resources and budgets
16. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 2 - Problem Definition!
• State the problem clearly
• Make sure everybody in
the team has the same
problem understanding
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
17. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 3 - Data Analysis!
• Examine and discuss
data
• Conduct data analysis
• Brainstorm
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
18. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) !
• Use a strategic approach
to determine root
cause(s)
• Indicators that you have
found Root Cause:
• Agreement on a root
cause
• Cause is logical,
makes sense, and
provides clarity to the
problem
• Cause is something
you can influence and
control
• If cause is resolved,
there is realistic hope
that the problem can
be reduced or
prevented in the
future.
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
19. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– There are different strategies/approaches to determine root causes
available: !
• The “5 Whys”:!
– a process to seek root cause by asking “why” five times in succession!
• System Planning Process:!
– Problem solving approach asking 4 major questions: !
» Where are we now? !
» Where are we going? !
» How will we get there? !
» What is holding us back? !
20. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– The “5 Whys”:!
• asking the question ‘Why’ 5 times, will lead you to the root cause of the
problem. !
• Steps: !
– Write down the specific problem. Writing the problem makes sure that
everybody in the team focuses on the same problem!
– Ask why the problem happens and write down the answer!
– Repeat 5 times until there is an agreement in the team that the problem is
identified!
21. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– The “5 Whys”: !
• Example: The learning group does not make sufficient learning progress!
!
Why!
• The pace of learning instructions is too fast !
Why!
• The learning need level of the group is too diverse!
Why!
• No tutors for discussion/problem solving available!
Why!
• The commitment of the learning group is insufficient!
Why!
• (insert response)!
22. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– System Planning Process:!
Where are we now?
Where are we going?
How will we get there?
What is holding us back?
• What are the facts (current data)?
• What worked well?
• What can be improved?
• What do we want to achieve (goal)?
• What is the expected outcome?
• What steps must we take to ensure we reach the outcome?
• Who are the key members of team?
• Is there support for improvement planning and
implementation?
• What roadblocks must we overcome in order to reach the
expected outcome?
23. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 5 - Improvement Planning!
The improvement plan
should include:
• Logical link between root
cause and improvement
activities
• Evidence-based
practices
• Short- and long-term
outcomes, timelines and
action steps for
improvement activities
• Personnel (and partners)
identified to develop,
implement, monitor, and
evaluate the
improvement activity
• Collect Data to evaluate
outcomes of
improvement activities
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
24. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 6 - Evaluation!
• Provides a process for
gathering, analysing and
using data.
• Allows to determine
whether the planned
activities are effectively
carried out as planned to
which extend you are
achieving short-term and
long-term outcomes
Step 1: Team and Management
Step 2: Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
25. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
Content!
26. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
• Categories of failure: Causes of failure can occur on different levels!
– Human failure: !
• Human failure is a failure that occurs at an individual level!
!
– Technical failure:!
• Technical failure is a failure resulting from location or equipment !
!
– Organizational failure:!
• Organizational failure is a failure because of organizational rules, policies,
or procedures!
27. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
• Categories of failure causes: There are different categories of
failure causes!
– Assumption causes: !
• an essential piece of information cannot be verified and is guessed or
presumed!
!
– Selection causes:!
• two or more options exist, and the wrong option is chosen!
!
– Capture causes:!
• focus on a task is diverted elsewhere and an error goes undetected!
28. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical causes of failure: Typically for failure are:!
– Poor planning: !
• Not starting from the right way!
– Lack of leadership:!
• Not agreed on or fulfilling duties!
– Inadequate knowledge:!
• Not the right skills !
– People problems:!
• Personal issues!
– Technical problems:!
• Not equipped the right way!
!
29. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical Causes of Failure: Poor planning!
– Lack of communication: !
• No communication procedures developed, lack of communication in team!
– No breakdowns to milestones:!
• No project management plan!
– Not prioritized:!
• Not setting the right focus on sub-problems and steps!
– Not involving the right people:!
• No involvement of the right stakeholders!
– Lack of time:!
• Time management inadequate!
– Unrealistic scheduling:!
• Too ambitious or too loose!
!
30. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical Causes of Failure: Lack of leadership!
– No structure: !
• Ownership, leadership and decision making not clear!
– Decisions not on time:!
• Decisions are made too slow or not at all!
– Lack of management competences:!
• Project management does not have the needed leading skills!
– Neglecting roles:!
• Project team is not fulfilling its individual duties!
– No strategic vision:!
• Not clear where to go!
– Unrealistic expectations:!
• The vision is too ambitious!
!
31. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical Causes of Failure: Inadequate knowledge!
– Lacking skills: !
• Wrong skills for the task!
– Inexperience:!
• No experience in fulfilling the task!
– Not addressing risks:!
• No risk management!
– No tracking!
• Actions and milestones are not tracked!
– Incomplete or vague plan:!
• The plan does not cover all relevant aspects!
– Inadequate control systems:!
• No or inadequate controlling systems!
!
32. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical Causes of Failure: People problems!
– Lacking communication: !
• Team members do not communicate adequately !
– Lacking leadership:!
• Team is lacking leadership!
– No efficient team:!
• Team works not efficient and is not focussed!
– Unable to resolve conflicts:!
• Team conflicts are not solved!
– Inadequate resources:!
• Team is not big enough or has the wrong resources!
!
33. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
• Typical Causes of Failure: Technical problems!
– Failing definition of technical requirements: !
• Wrong assumptions for technical requirements in the beginning!
– Unexpected problems with new technology:!
• New technology is used but causes unexpected problems!
– Poor technical design:!
• The technical equipment is not sufficiently installed and used!
– Changing requirements during the process:!
• The technical requirements change during the process!
– Technology does not fit together:!
• Tools and technical equipment does not work together!
– Poor initial testing!
• Equipment was not tested before starting!
!
34. Module 3: Causes of Failure!
• What we discussed today!
– how we attribute success and failure to!
– how roots for failures can be analysed!
– what typical reasons for project failures are!
• Thank you for your attention!
!
Learned!
Hinweis der Redaktion
Introduce the learning objectives the of the course
Introduce the structure the of the course.
CLARE FIX THIS
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