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As this web site is attended by a wide variety of persons in industry, academia, and business, it follows that the number and types of approaches are inclined to be vast and varied.  The Root Off is a competition that has been developed to help show the differences in approaches being used in root cause analysis so that they might be compared and studied.  

This month's Root-Off addresses the very real, devastating, and mysterious disaster that occurred September 21,  in Toulouse, France.  Included is the New York Times article describing the incident, along with some photographs to show the destruction.  

Since this is a real incident that is under investigation (since we do not know the causes), this month's Root-Off will be unique.  Instead of showing your investigative results, you are being asked to propose an investigative approach.  

You will be competing with your peers to see who gets to LEAD this investigation.

Assume that you’ve just received a telephone call from Toulouse, France.  They’ve heard of your investigative skills, and are considering you to lead the investigation into the “root causes” of their massive explosion.  Others are being considered. 

(assume this is NOT a terrorist-related event) 

If chosen, you will be given free reign – anything you ask will be given.  Unlimited financial and people resources will be made available.  The government will go to any length to understand the causes of this event.  They want the BEST to lead the investigation.

The decision on who to hire to lead this investigation will be based on: 

1. Your “plan of attack, ” including but not limited to:
1. what you will do (and in what order you’ll do it)
2. who you’ll need
3. anticipated time-line
2. Suggested deliverables – the “investigative product.”
3. An example of a type of “report” you usually provide.
4. Why do you think we should hire you?.

Your response is due on April 1, 2002.

The ROOT OFF will your PROPOSAL as the means of judging each approach.

Those wishing to participate in the Root Off competition are to upload their PROPOSAL to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rootcauseconference/files/MonthlyRoot-OffReports/. Please use the following convention to name your uploaded file… firstinitial-lastname-monthyear, ex: B-Nelms-0502.  Call Bob Nelms at 540-377-2010 (or email at bobnelms@rootcauselive.com)if you have difficulty uploading your report.  Everyone is eligible -- both users and providers!

Reports must be uploaded by the midnight, March 31, 2002 for consideration in that month’s Root-Off.

Reports will be judged by Root Cause LIVE members at-large.  A poll will be created near the beginning of the New Year to judge each PROPSOAL on following criteria:

1. Approach (WHAT you will do and in what order you'll do it).

2. People (WHO you will need and when you'll need them).

3. Timeline (tying the above together)

4. Deliverables (your suggested investigative "product").

5. Report Template (example report)

6. Why You? (aside from the above, convince us that we should hire you)

Each PROPOSAL will be judged on each of the above criteria on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest score.  Scores from each category will be summed to arrive at the total score.

Polls will be open for 2 weeks.  Winners will be announced on the Web Site on the 1^st day of May, 2002.

A prize will be awarded for the winner of the Root-Off!  In addition, the winner's photograph will be displayed on the home page of RootCauseLive for a month.  Finally, the winner will be place in our Winners Circle -- a permanent area of the web site devoted to honoring award-winners.

Incidents are to be contributed/suggested by any of our members.  If you are interested in contributing an incident, send an e-mail to bobnelms@rootcauselive.com with your suggested incident (attached as a file).