What methods do you lean on to perform root cause analysis?
Understanding the root cause of a problem with a product or an operational issue is imperative to resolving it and avoiding it in the future. Creative project managers engage in this type of analysis often to help resolve team, operational, and product-related problems. This question is asked to test a candidate's ability to perform this function of the role.
Remember to mention any of the widely accepted methodologies for root cause analysis within your response. While an interviewer may be able to follow your description of a custom method, interviewers value candidates that have a solid working knowledge of industry-accepted methods.
"I have used a variety of root cause analysis methods in the past. They each have their place, and I customize the approach to fit the situation. Most commonly, I use the 5 whys method. It is easy to follow, and all of the members of my team can apply it. I also like to apply the Pareto principle when it makes sense. In my experience, the root cause of an issue is usually multi-faceted, and narrowing the causes down to those that have the most impact is a valuable exercise."
