It's true that any mistake can be a learning opportunity. Too often, though, students don't understand how to translate serious errors into lessons that can propel them towards success.

An approach known as root cause analysis is a proven framework that allows students to build upon mistakes rather than repeating them. As the name suggests, the framework aims to deliver us to the root cause of any given problem.

A student who has struggled academically, had behavioral hiccups, or veered off course in other ways can use the “Five Why's” of root cause analysis to answer two pressing questions:

1) Why did I do that?

2) How can I avoid doing that in the future?

The “Five Why's” of root cause analysis are a memorable, repeatable process that every student should memorize.

Root Cause Analysis Focuses on a Single, Vital Question: Why?

The purpose of root cause analysis is to “analyze a problem or sequence of events in order to identify what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.”

In order to fetch these answers, root cause analysis requires that you answer the question “why?” five times. With each answer, you will focus your attention closer and closer to the root cause of whatever error you've made.

Let's say that you were caught cheating on an exam. When you analyze this mistake through the lens of root cause analysis, the sequence might look like this:

What happened? I cheated on an exam and now I am in trouble.

Why did I cheat on the exam (Why #1)? Because I felt unprepared for the exam, and did not want to fail.

Why did I feel unprepared for the exam (Why #2)? Because I did not spend nearly enough time studying.

Why didn't I spend enough time studying (Why #3)? Because I spent most school nights partying with my roommates.

Why did I spend so much time partying with roommates instead of studying (Why #4)? Because I assumed that I would be able to digest the information in only a few days before the exam.

Why did I believe you could cram and still pass the exam (Why #5)? Because I have done this before, and it has worked in several prior instances.

Through these “Five Why's,” one arrives at a conclusion: What worked before (cramming) does not necessarily work for every course. A student who follows root cause analysis could recognize the flaw in their own logic—that cramming is not a reliable studying method—and study earlier and harder for their next exam.

This is just one example of root cause analysis and the Five Why's in action. For virtually any problem that you encounter during high school or college, root cause analysis will help you sift through surface-level explanations to the real reasons why you've failed to live up to your own expectations.

It Is Never Too Late to Make Your Mistakes Right—Call the Lento Law Firm Today

Attorney Joseph D. Lento counsels high school and college students and others who've made mistakes or face baseless misconduct accusations. If your child faces disciplinary measures from a high school or university, the Lento Law Firm will seek the best possible outcome for their future.  Call 888-535-3686 or contact us online now.