BD1 - Root Cause Analysis Fundamentals and Rapid Apparent Cause Evaluations (RACE) Course

Name: BD1 - Root Cause Analysis Fundamentals and Rapid Apparent Cause Evaluations (RACE) Course
Start: 2026-08-04
End: 2026-08-05
Location: National Defense Industrial Association

Transform How Your Organization Solves Problems

In a comprehensive study of over 332,860 executives, Zenger-Folkman identified problem-solving as the most critical skill for middle managers. Yet most organizations continue to struggle with recurring problems, shallow "human error" conclusions, and corrective actions that fail to prevent recurrence. The 2-day BD1 Root Cause Analysis Fundamentals course addresses this gap by teaching a revolutionary, AI-enhanced approach to causal analysis that has proven effective in some of the most demanding operational environments in the world.

What Makes This Course Different

Unlike traditional RCA methods that fragment analysis across disconnected tools (Fishbone diagrams, 5-Whys chains, separate timelines), BlueDragon provides an integrated problem-solving operating system that consolidates the best elements of proven methodologies into a single, coherent framework. Students learn to conduct Rapid Apparent Cause Evaluations (RACE™) that solve most problems in 2-4 hours—not weeks—while simultaneously developing the critical thinking, systems thinking, and complex problem-solving skills that are increasingly essential in today's high-stakes environments.

Core Capabilities You'll Develop

Evidence-First Analysis: Learn to separate data analysis from causal analysis, using disciplined Lines of Inquiry to guard against confirmation bias and premature conclusions before building cause-and-effect logic.
Systems Thinking: Apply defense-in-depth analysis and systems theory to identify where organizational defenses failed and what systemic conditions made failure inevitable—moving beyond surface-level "human error" to address root causes.
Human & Organizational Performance Integration: Evaluate culture, leadership, and organizational conditions as first-class causal factors, not afterthoughts, treating frontline behaviors as symptoms of upstream conditions.
AI-Enhanced Efficiency: Leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate data analysis and pattern recognition in Phase 1, while maintaining human-led causal analysis in Phase 2 to preserve the integrity of subject matter expertise.
Scalable Methodology: Master a graded approach that applies the same framework to everyday 2-4 hour apparent cause evaluations and multi-week root cause investigations of complex, recurring problems.
Sustainable Corrective Actions: Design high-leverage corrective and preventive actions using the hierarchy of hazard controls and Lean mistake-proofing principles—strategies proven to prevent recurrence.