Root Cause Analysis

Registration

Training rate

From $1,550 (GST incl.)

This two-day Root Cause Analysis course develops practical skills for structured workplace investigations. Participants learn to gather and evaluate evidence, identify contributing factors and underlying system conditions, and develop actions that reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

The course applies the Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM) across quality and health and safety examples, including product nonconformities, process deviations, customer complaints, incidents, and near misses.

This course is for people who lead, support, or review workplace investigations, including those working in quality, health and safety, operations, risk, and regulatory roles.

Course programme

From evidence to effective action

Root cause analysis examines the evidence behind an event to understand what happened, the factors that shaped the outcome, and which actions are likely to reduce recurrence.

This practical course uses ICAM as a structured investigation framework, informed by Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) thinking.

Participants learn to define the investigation scope, collect and evaluate evidence, reconstruct events, analyse contributing factors, and develop proportionate actions. The focus is on the system conditions that shaped the outcome, without treating individual action or error as a sufficient explanation.

Day 1: Investigation foundations

Root cause analysis principles, HOP thinking, investigation planning, evidence collection, event timelines, Event and Causal Factor charting, and PEEPO analysis, using quality and health and safety examples.

Day 2: Analysis and action

Cause analysis, action development, implementation planning, effectiveness measures, reporting, investigation leadership, and organisational learning.

Learning outcomes

Understand RCA and ICAM

Explain the purpose of root cause analysis and the ICAM framework
Distinguish events, direct causes, contributing factors, and underlying system conditions
Describe how the approach applies to quality and health and safety events

Plan and conduct investigations

Define the investigation scope, objectives, boundaries, team roles, and resources
Use appropriate methods to collect, preserve, and evaluate evidence
Build an evidence-based event timeline

Analyse causes and contributing factors

Construct Event and Causal Factor (ECF) charts
Use PEEPO to examine People, Equipment, Environment, Procedures, and Organisation factors
Use Five Whys and other structured questions to probe possible causes

Develop and plan effective actions

Develop actions linked to identified causes and contributing factors
Use the hierarchy of controls and other relevant criteria to assess proposed actions
Assign responsibilities and timeframes, and define measures of effectiveness

Report findings and support learning

Document the evidence, analysis, conclusions, and proposed actions
Communicate findings clearly to relevant audiences
Use investigation findings to support organisational learning and system improvement

Frequently asked questions

Who is this course for?

This course is for people who lead, support, or review investigations in quality, health and safety, operations, risk, or regulatory settings. It is suitable for investigations into nonconformities, process deviations, customer complaints, incidents, and near misses.

How is the course delivered?

This is a two-day, face-to-face course combining facilitator-led learning, group discussion, worked examples, and practical investigation exercises.

What is included in the training rate?

Tuition, the course workbook, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea are included in the training rate.

What is the cancellation policy?

Full payment is required upon registration; training details are provided after payment is received. Refunds are subject to cancellation fees:

A 20% fee applies to cancellations made more than 14 days before training.
A 60% fee applies to cancellations made between 14 days and 48 hours before training.
No refund is available for cancellations within 48 hours of training.

Requests for substitutions or changes to training dates or options are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Need help choosing a course?

Make a training enquiry to discuss whether this course suits your role or organisational needs.

Training enquiry

Training rates shown on this website are indicative and confirmed at the time of registration or enrolment. They apply to domestic participants in 2026 and may change in future years. Additional costs for learning materials or equipment may apply.

One investigation framework across quality and safety

ICAM can be applied to quality and health and safety events, while the evidence required, risks, and obligations remain specific to each investigation.

Root cause analysis provides the overall problem-solving discipline, ICAM structures the investigation, and HOP thinking helps examine how work and systems shape outcomes. Together, they support findings and actions grounded in evidence.

Practical investigation skills

Planning and evidence collection

Event and Causal Factor charting

PEEPO analysis and Five Whys

Action planning and effectiveness review

Face-to-face training dates

There are currently no public face-to-face dates scheduled.

In-house training for organisations

In-house delivery can be arranged for organisations. Examples and exercises may be adapted to relevant quality, operational, or health and safety contexts while retaining the core course framework.

Group pricing may be available for multiple registrations from the same organisation.

Training enquiry

Employer-sponsored training

Your employer may be willing to contribute to the training rate as part of professional development.

Use the template below to explain how the course relates to your role and the needs of your organisation.

	Dear [Manager or supervisor name],
	
I would like to request support to attend [training course], delivered by the New Zealand Organisation for Quality (NZOQ) in [location] on [training date].
	
The course covers [relevant knowledge or skills]. This is relevant to my responsibilities in [area or project] and would support [specific organisational need].
	
The training rate is $[training rate]. I am requesting [full or partial] support for the fee and, if applicable, [travel or time away from work].
	
After completing the course, I can share the key learning with [team or colleagues] and identify how it could be applied to [process, system, or audit programme].
	
Please let me know if you require further information about the course.
	
Thank you for considering my request.
	
Kind regards,
	
[Your name]