Introduction
In any company, it is necessary to have a specific tool that will provide an opportunity to cope with emerging problems. One of the current problems faced by organizations is employee turnover. To resolve this issue and reduce the likelihood of its further occurrence, root cause analysis can be practical. This approach has several techniques that allow us to determine the causes that affect the occurrence of a particular situation for more effective resolution and decision-making (Okes, 2019).
Identifying a Problem Suitable for Root Cause Analysis
Research stated that “one barrier to effective root cause analysis is a lack of logical thinking about cause-and-effect relationships” (Latino et al., 2019, p. 4). Therefore, when implementing this tool to address the employee turnover problem, it is necessary to thoroughly investigate its basics and determine the steps to take. This aspect will provide an opportunity to conduct the most effective and organized analysis, which will benefit the organization.
Employee turnover is a rather complex and severe problem for any organization, and there is a critical need to find ways to limit it. For each company, “retaining valuable skilled employees is very important, as they are considered essential to the performance and success of an organization” (Al-Suraihi et al., 2021, p. 1). Within root cause analysis, there are four tools: fishbone diagram, 5 Whys, Pareto chart, and experiment design. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered in each case.
Selecting the Most Effective Tool for Root Cause Analysis
Within the framework of the problem under consideration, the use of such a root cause tool as 5 Whys may have the most remarkable effectiveness. This choice is because it is “one of the most efficient ways to both discover the root cause of a problem and ensure that steps are taken to prevent it from happening again” (“How to use the 5 whys technique,” 2021, para. 1).
Benefits of 5 Whys
The 5 Whys method includes a relatively simple but productive system for finding the root of the problem, which can be positively perceived and applied in the organization. When implementing this approach, managers aim to ask the question why five times in a row and answer it. This sequence aims to gradually narrow down the cause of the problem.
In addition to simplicity, the main advantage of the 5 Whys method is a high degree of organization and consistency. As already mentioned, at the center of this approach lies the task of addressing issues related to the current problem in the company. Thus, with each response, managers dealing with the issue get the opportunity to gain more specifics and awareness regarding the reasons for employee turnover (Bensla, 2023).
This approach has value in this context because when considering this kind of problem, it is critically important to pay attention to the whole picture. In other words, it is essential to investigate the workplace environment, working conditions, the climate and environment in the organization, and many other factors that can negatively and positively affect employees’ desire to stay or leave the company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, root cause analysis is a useful approach to solving such a problem as employee turnover. This aspect is because, with the help of such a method as 5 Whys, the organization can comprehensively and productively study the issue that has arisen and make the most helpful decision to limit it. The simplicity, systematic, and holistic perspective of such a method as 5 Whys makes it a successful tool for mitigating employee turnover problems.
References
Al-Suraihi, W. A., Samikon, S. A., Al-Suraihi, A. H. A., & Ibrahim, I. (2021). Employee turnover: Causes, importance and retention strategies. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 6(3), 1-10. Web.
Bensla, A. (2023). Uncovering the root cause: The power of the 5 whys technique. Risely. Web.
How to use the 5 whys technique for a root cause analysis. (2021). MasterClass. Web.
Latino, M. A., Latino, R. J., & Latino, K. C. (2019). Root cause analysis: Improving performance for bottom-line results. CRC Press.
Okes, D. (2019). Root cause analysis: The core of problem solving and corrective action. Quality Press.