causal analysis

A quality management approach to software development using feedback of defect data from work product inspections as a means of achieving quality improvements in development processes. The ultimate goal of causal analysis is defect prevention. The clear benefit is higher product quality and improved productivity through reductions in rework.

The software inspection process is in itself a prevention technique, but the statistics obtained from this process must be augmented with in-depth study to find out what caused the defects.

The goals of causal analysis are:

• To identify development process problem areas in a systematic way
• To change the corrective action process from one where a single developer learns from his or her mistake to one where all developers are familiar with, and learn from, all mistakes
• Prevent repetition of mistakes by improvement of development processes.