The Implementation of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Organizational Problem Solving at the Aceh Islamic Education Management Student Association

Abstract

This study aims to identify the root causes of students’ low interest in joining the executive board of the Islamic Education Management Study Program Student Association (HMP-MPI) through the application of Root Cause Analysis (RCA). The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, while quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire. The interviews involved six key informants selected through purposive sampling. Meanwhile, the survey was conducted among 105 MPI students regarding the HMP-MPI executive board at UIN Aceh. The data were analyzed using the 5 Whys Technique, Fishbone Diagram, and Pareto Chart. The research results indicate that the root cause of the problem stems from ineffective internal communication, which triggers recurring conflicts, fosters negative perceptions among students, and ultimately reduces their interest in participating. The Fishbone Diagram reinforces these findings by showing that the aspects of man, method, system, measurable, and environment all contribute to the organization’s weak functioning. The Pareto Chart indicates that two dominant factors—weak leadership competencies (22.8%) and the lack of self-development and leadership training programs (27.6%)—account for a total of 50.4%, followed by ineffective internal communication, recruitment inaccuracies, and the absence of SOPs, which together make up 100% of the causes. These findings underscore the need to strengthen the organizational structure, enhance the competencies of management, and develop structured recruitment and training SOPs.