MyMapDescribe the problem
Explain the issue, when it occurs, who it affects, and any symptoms or patterns you've observed. The more context, the more accurate the analysis.
Root Cause Analysis Tool
Describe any problem or failure and AI maps the contributing factors and causal chain — from symptoms to root causes — so you can fix the right thing.
✦Free to try · No signup required · PDF, docs & images supported
Simple by design
How it works
AI maps the causes
MyMap generates a causal diagram — problem at the center, contributing factors branching out, with root causes identified at the deepest level.
Diagnose and act
Ask AI to suggest fixes for each root cause, prioritize which to address first, or run a 5 Whys analysis on any branch. Export for post-mortems or team reviews.
About the framework
What is Root Cause Analysis?
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a structured problem-solving method for identifying the underlying cause of a failure or issue — not just its symptoms. Rather than applying a quick fix that may let the problem recur, RCA traces the causal chain back to the fundamental source.
The methodology emerged from manufacturing and engineering in the mid-20th century and is now standard practice in software engineering, healthcare, quality management, and operations. Common techniques include the 5 Whys, fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams, and fault tree analysis.
Why RCA works
- Symptom vs. cause distinction prevents teams from wasting effort on surface-level fixes
- Causal chain mapping reveals how multiple contributing factors converge to create a problem
- Structured format makes post-mortems reproducible and learnable across incidents
- Prioritized action lets you address the highest-leverage root cause first
RCA is especially valuable for recurring incidents, production outages, quality escapes, and any situation where the same problem keeps resurfacing.
MyMap's AI builds a visual causal diagram from a plain-language description of your problem — mapping contributing factors and root causes instantly, without requiring a structured template.
Related tools & templates
Browse all templates5 Whys Root Cause Analysis
A 5 Whys analysis tracing a delayed feature release through five structured why-questions down to the root cause, using diamond nodes and a connected vertical flow.
Root Cause Analysis Fishbone Diagram
A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram for root cause analysis — organizing potential causes across six categories: People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment, and Management.
Coca-Cola SWOT Analysis
A 2x2 SWOT analysis grid for Coca-Cola covering global brand reach, sugar health concerns, zero-sugar growth, and regulatory threats.
Nike SWOT Analysis
A 2x2 SWOT analysis grid for Nike covering brand dominance, supply chain challenges, DTC opportunities, and competitive threats in athletic footwear.
Apple SWOT Analysis
A 2x2 SWOT analysis grid for Apple covering ecosystem lock-in, premium pricing, services growth, and regulatory threats.
PESTLE Analysis
A 6-cell external environment analysis covering Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors for a SaaS startup.
Tesla SWOT Analysis
A 2x2 SWOT analysis grid for Tesla covering EV leadership, production challenges, autonomous driving potential, and intensifying competition.
Amazon SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis for Amazon covering strengths (logistics, AWS, Prime), weaknesses (thin margins, labor issues), opportunities (healthcare, AI), and threats (antitrust, competition).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Is the root cause analysis tool free?
Yes — free to use without signing up. Free accounts include a generous number of AI messages per month. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited analyses.
What's the difference between root cause analysis and the 5 Whys?
Root cause analysis is the broader methodology — it can use many techniques including fishbone diagrams, fault trees, or 5 Whys. The 5 Whys is a specific technique that drills down by asking 'why?' five times. MyMap supports both.
What problems is this good for?
Software incidents, production failures, quality defects, customer complaints, process breakdowns, recurring bugs, team performance issues — any problem where you need to identify the true underlying cause rather than treating symptoms.
Root Cause Analysis Tool
Free to start. No credit card required.
✦Free to try · No signup required · PDF, docs & images supported