The NGO’s planning committee gathered one Saturday to decide how to use a fresh grant. Debates went in circles with no resolution, leaving everyone drained. The volunteer Project Manager noticed the missing element: structure.
No clear preparation, no assigned leads, and no prioritization caused circular discussions. Without addressing root causes, learning culture couldn’t take hold.
The team applied Root Cause Learning with retrospectives. Recognizing contributors with awards encouraged problem-solving, transforming meetings from firefighting to constructive discussion.
Applying structured root cause learning saved ~10% effort, improved collaboration, and created a culture of continuous improvement. Meetings became focused, voices were heard, and repeated mistakes reduced.
Quick Quiz — Check what you remember
What practice did the Project Manager introduce?
Summary of Blog
- Root cause analysis focuses on addressing underlying issues rather than symptoms.
- Structured problem-solving improves team collaboration and efficiency.
- Recognizing contributions through retrospectives fosters learning culture.
