A business analyst is working on a project to implement a new call management system for a help desk. They expected the average time interval to answer a call to decrease over time, but the interval has increased instead.
Which technique should the business analyst use to investigate the problem?
Correct Answer: B
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a technique that can be used to investigate the problem of increased call interval in a new call management system. Root cause analysis is a method of identifying and resolving the underlying causes of a problem or an issue, rather than treating the symptoms or the effects. Root cause analysis involves asking questions, collecting data, analyzing evidence, finding patterns, drawing conclusions, and recommending solutions. Root cause analysis can help to prevent recurrence of the problem, improve performance, reduce risks, and increase customer satisfaction. Interviews are a technique that can be used to elicit information from stakeholders, but they may not be sufficient to investigate the problem in depth and find its root causes. Observation is a technique that can be used to understand how stakeholders perform their work in their own environment, but it may not be able to explain why the problem occurs and what causes it. Process modeling is a technique that can be used to represent how activities are performed in a process, but it may not be able to identify and resolve the problem in the process. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners:
A Practice Guide2, page 95.