Value of Failure!
Students Course!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
Content!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• 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!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• Attribution: Attribution can be dispositional or situational!
Attribution
(What causes a certain behaviour?)
Something within a person Behaviour is caused by something
(e.g. personality) outside (e.g. situation)
= internal attribution = external attribution
DISPOSITIONAL Attribution SITUATIONAL Attribution
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• Weiner’s Attribution theory: Overview!
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Locus of causality!
Internal! External!
Stable!
Ability Task difficulty
Stability!
Unstable!
Effort Luck
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• Weiner’s Attribution theory: Areas that affect causal attributions!
!
– Relevant areas:!
• Ability!
• Luck!
• Effort!
• Task difficulty!
!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
1. Attribution theory!
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• 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!
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!
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
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
Content!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
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
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• 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!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• 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!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• 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
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 1 - Team and Management!
• Set up a management
plan Step 1: Team and Management
• Select the right team
members
• Clarify the duties of each
team member Step 2 : Problem Definition
• Clarify communication
procedures
• Set the timeframe,
resources and budgets Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 2 - Problem Definition!
• State the problem clearly
• Make sure everybody in Step 1: Team and Management
the team has the same
problem understanding
Step 2 : Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 3 - Data Analysis!
• Examine and discuss
data Step 1: Team and Management
• Conduct data analysis
• Brainstorm
Step 2 : Problem Definition
Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
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 Step 1: Team and Management
cause(s)
• Indicators that you have
found Root Cause: Step 2 : Problem Definition
• Agreement on a root
cause
• Cause is logical,
makes sense, and Step 3: Data Analysis
provides clarity to the
problem
• Cause is something
you can influence and Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
control
• If cause is resolved,
there is realistic hope
that the problem can
Step 5: Improvement Planning
be reduced or
prevented in the
future.
Step 6: Evaluation
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• 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? !
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!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– The “5 Whys”: !
• Example: The learning group does not make sufficient learning progress!
!
• 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)!
Why!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
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• Root Cause Analysis: Step 4 - Determine Root Cause(s) (continued)!
– System Planning Process:!
• What are the facts (current data)?
• What worked well?
Where are we now? • What can be improved?
• What do we want to achieve (goal)?
• What is the expected outcome?
Where are we going?
• What steps must we take to ensure we reach the outcome?
• Who are the key members of team?
How will we get there?
• Is there support for improvement planning and
implementation?
What is holding us back? • What roadblocks must we overcome in order to reach the
expected outcome?
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 5 - Improvement Planning!
The improvement plan
should include: Step 1: Team and Management
• Logical link between root
cause and improvement
activities
• Evidence-based Step 2 : Problem Definition
practices
• Short- and long-term
outcomes, timelines and
action steps for Step 3: Data Analysis
improvement activities
• Personnel (and partners)
identified to develop,
implement, monitor, and Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
evaluate the
improvement activity
• Collect Data to evaluate
Step 5: Improvement Planning
outcomes of
improvement activities
Step 6: Evaluation
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
2. Root cause analysis!
!
• Root Cause Analysis: Step 6 - Evaluation!
• Provides a process for
gathering, analysing and Step 1: Team and Management
using data.
• Allows to determine
whether the planned
activities are effectively Step 2 : Problem Definition
carried out as planned to
which extend you are
achieving short-term and
long-term outcomes Step 3: Data Analysis
Step 4: Determine Root Cause(s)
Step 5: Improvement Planning
Step 6: Evaluation
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
Content!
1. Attribution theory!
2. Root cause analysis!
3. Typical causes of failure!
!
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!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
3. Typical causes of failure!
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• 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!
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!
!
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!
!
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!
!
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!
!
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!
!
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!
!
Module 3: Causes of Failure!
Learned!
• 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!
!
