Authors: Justin Paul Iacouzzi
Abstract: This research explores the application and efficacy of Timeline Root Cause Analysis (RCA) within organizational governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks. RCA is a structured methodology designed to move beyond superficial issue resolution by chronologically mapping causal events to identify fundamental failures. The study investigates how integrating timeline-based RCA impacts organizational resilience, ethical accountability, and operational precision. Employing mixed-method approaches across multiple case studies—including manufacturing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and labor sectors—the research validates three hypotheses: (H1) Timeline RCA significantly enhances root cause identification and mitigative response, reducing incident recurrence; (H2) RCA adoption fosters positive shifts in organizational safety culture and ethical governance; and (H3) AI-augmented digital RCA tools improve the speed and accuracy of risk management decisions. Quantitative analyses demonstrate statistically significant improvements in each domain, while qualitative findings highlight enhanced transparency, cross-departmental communication, and data integrity. Limitations include dependency on data quality, organizational culture barriers, and technology adoption costs. The results emphasize Timeline RCA as an integral governance mechanism that bridges compliance with ethical stewardship and methodological rigor. Future research should prioritize standardization of timeline approaches, leadership-driven culture change initiatives, and hybrid digital-human RCA frameworks to sustain long-term governance improvements.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17279092
