Separate root causes from contributing factors
Connect people, process, technology, vendor, data, environment and governance conditions without flattening them into one cause.
Classify the factor
- Use a stable category and description.
- Link to a cause only when justified.
Retain ownership
- Ownership supports correction and does not assign blame.
- Keep source evidence.
Preserve complexity
- Multiple factors may amplify one event.
- Do not hide rejected explanations.
Retain the problem record
The Problem Management Studio keeps hypotheses, contrary evidence, factors, actions, checks, recurrence observations and decisions connected. It does not change systems, assign blame, spend money or prove effectiveness without observation.