Root Cause Analysis: Parsing Complex Challenges in Academic Libraries

Root cause analysis (RCA) has been used in government, technology, health care, and other sectors for over 60 years. It assists organizations in identifying the original, most authentic cause or causes of an extremely complex problem. Depending on the nature of the problem, the organization can then make plans to mitigate the problem or avoid similar situations in the future. Scholarly library literature does not provide examples of any libraries using RCA. This article aims to present RCA as a strong and relevant addition to academic libraries' array of problem-solving tools. It outlines three models of RCA so that libraries may choose one that suits their needs. As academic libraries almost invariably exist in complex universes of stakeholders, funding, politics, and other factors, I believe that RCA is a natural fit for approaching their challenges efficiently.