root-cause
Dig to fundamental truths and real causes behind problems. Use when user asks "why does this happen", "what's the real problem", "root cause", "first principles", "jobs to be done", "JTBD", "five whys", "fundamental reason", or needs to understand underlying causes rather than symptoms.
When & Why to Use This Skill
The Root Cause skill is an advanced analytical framework designed to uncover fundamental truths and the underlying origins of complex problems. By moving beyond surface-level symptoms, this skill employs rigorous methodologies such as the Five Whys, First Principles Thinking, and Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD). It serves as a critical thinking engine for Claude, enabling users to challenge conventional assumptions, innovate from basic truths, and implement long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes. It is an essential tool for anyone performing deep-dive research, strategic planning, or complex troubleshooting.
Use Cases
- Technical Troubleshooting: Identifying the fundamental architectural or logic flaws behind recurring software bugs to ensure permanent resolution.
- Product Innovation: Using First Principles to deconstruct existing industry standards and rebuild disruptive solutions from the ground up.
- Customer Motivation Analysis: Applying the Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) framework to discover the real 'job' users are trying to accomplish with a product.
- Operational Process Improvement: Utilizing the Five Whys technique to investigate organizational bottlenecks and prevent the recurrence of operational failures.
- Strategic Auditing: Challenging 'status quo' assumptions within a business to find more effective, evidence-based paths for growth and efficiency.
| name | root-cause |
|---|---|
| description | Dig to fundamental truths and real causes behind problems. Use when user asks "why does this happen", "what's the real problem", "root cause", "first principles", "jobs to be done", "JTBD", "five whys", "fundamental reason", or needs to understand underlying causes rather than symptoms. |
| allowed-tools | Read |
Root Cause - Fundamental Truth Finder
Dig beneath symptoms to find fundamental causes and truths. Stop treating symptoms and solve actual problems.
Quick Start
- Identify what you're trying to understand
- Select technique based on what you need
- Keep digging until you hit bedrock
Technique Selection
| Need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understand why a problem occurs | Five Whys | Chain backward to root cause |
| Challenge assumptions, rebuild from scratch | First Principles | Strip away conventions |
| Understand what users actually need | Jobs-to-be-Done | Focus on underlying motivation |
Default: Use Five Whys for problems, JTBD for user needs, First Principles for innovation.
Techniques
Five Whys
Chain backward from symptom to root cause by repeatedly asking "why?" until you hit fundamental cause.
First Principles Decomposition
Strip away assumptions and conventions to find fundamental truths, then rebuild solutions from basics.
Read cookbook/first-principles.md
Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD)
Understand what users are really trying to accomplish, not what they say they want.
Read cookbook/jobs-to-be-done.md
Core Principles
- Symptoms lie - Surface problems often hide deeper causes
- Keep asking - First answer is rarely the root cause
- Challenge assumptions - "That's just how it works" isn't an explanation
- Multiple roots - Problems often have several contributing causes
- Verify - Test your root cause hypothesis before acting
When Root Cause Analysis Works Best
- Same problem keeps recurring
- Fixes don't stick
- Problem feels like "that's just how it is"
- You're solving what customers ask for, not what they need
- Starting something new and want to avoid inherited assumptions
Warning Signs You Need This
- "We've tried everything but the problem persists"
- "That's how we've always done it"
- "Users say they want X" (but X doesn't seem to help)
- "We fixed that already" (but it came back)
- Solving lots of small problems instead of one big one