Description:

This Master Prompt consolidates established qualitative, semi-quantitative and logic-based Root Cause Analysis tools into a systematic investigation framework. It guides researchers in selecting, applying, comparing and integrating methods such as 5 Whys, Ishikawa/Fishbone diagrams, Pareto analysis, cause-and-effect analysis, causal trees, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), barrier analysis, Bow-Tie analysis, Tripod approaches, fault signature matrices and structured evidence matrices. These methods serve different purposes: some generate candidate causes, some progressively interrogate causal chains, some prioritize recurring problems, some model combinations of events leading to failure, and others examine failed or missing preventive and mitigative barriers.