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Root-Cause Analysis.

Trace a recurring problem past its symptoms to the underlying cause that, if removed, would stop it for good.

Take one recurring problem at a time and trace it to its root.

Ask why, repeatedly. Keep asking why each answer happened until you reach a cause that is structural rather than a surface explanation.

The test

A root cause is structural, something about how the process is built, not "someone made a mistake." A late delivery traces not to "the person was slow" but to a handoff with no clear owner, or a step that depends on one overloaded person. If your answer blames a person, ask why the process let that happen, and keep going.

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Takes problems from the Recurring-Problem Log; the root cause feeds the Countermeasure Protocol. Back to the guide, or start over.