What type of information is typically analyzed during a root cause analysis?

During a root cause analysis, the primary focus is on gathering and examining factual evidence related to the finding in question. This evidence serves as the foundation for understanding why a problem occurred and provides concrete data that can lead to actionable insights. Factual evidence may include incident reports, performance metrics, violation records, and similar documentation that provides a clear picture of the issue at hand.

This approach is crucial because it allows analysts to establish a direct correlation between observed problems and their underlying causes. By concentrating on verifiable information rather than assumptions or generalities, the analysis can yield effective solutions that address the core issues rather than just the symptoms.

The other options fall short in providing the necessary depth for a thorough root cause analysis. Non-urgent control procedures do not address specific incidents that require investigation. General industry practices may offer context but lack the targeted insights needed for the analysis. Baseline findings from previous audits may also inform the analysis, but without the relevance of current factual evidence, they cannot definitively identify the root cause of a specific issue.