The Simplification of Root Cause Management

The unicist approach to root causes simplifies business management and aims to establish a new stage in Root Cause Management. The term “root cause management” is associated with problem-solving, which inhibits addressing businesses as adaptive systems by managing the root causes of their functionality and designing the binary actions that make them work

Approximately 80% of start-ups fail within the first two years of existence. This high failure rate suggests that the percentage would be significantly lower if the root causes of business functionality and the design of unicist binary actions were addressed from the outset.

Root causes are addressed using conceptual design to manage functionalist principles, binary actions, and their double dialectical functionality.

This enables the transformation of adaptive systems into systemic functions and binary actions that can be operated without the need to understand their root causes.

This document introduces a framework that enables businesses to be conceptually designed and managed based on the root causes and binary actions that drive their functionality. This process is simplified through the use of Unicist Conceptual Design Labs, which provide the necessary information, cases, and benchmarks.

Unicist Binary Actions and the Root Causes of Functionality

Unicist binary actions are essential for managing adaptive environments, such as businesses. They consist of two synchronized actions: the reaction to the first action creates a space that is addressed by the second action, generating results without provoking additional reactions. These actions naturally enhance growth and profitability. Knowledge of the root causes of the functionality is needed to develop binary actions. 

In adaptive business environments, functionality precedes operationality. Understanding why and how things work is no longer optional—it is essential to ensure consistent value generation, particularly in times when AI and automation magnify both the power and risk of decisions. 

The unicist functionalist approach addresses this need by enabling the design of business processes based on their underlying root causes, expressed through functionalist principles. The operationalization of these principles is achieved through the design and implementation of unicist binary actions (UBAs), which ensure the adaptive functionality of processes.

Examples of Evident Binary Actions in Different Fields:

• Learning + Teaching = Knowledge Acquisition
• Participation + Non-Exerted Power = Leadership
• Empathy + Sympathy = Influencing
• Productivity + Quality = Production
• Marketing + Selling = Revenue Generation
• Root Causes + Triggering Causes = Solution Building
• Efficacy + Efficiency = Effectiveness
• Desirability + Harmony = Aesthetics

Root Cause Management in Business

1) Systemic functions can be managed by understanding the cause-effect relationships of their functions. In contrast, the organization of adaptive systems, which are continuously evolving, requires addressing the root causes of their functionality as a unified field.

2) The functionality of adaptive functions defines the root causes of their operation and is based on their functionalist principles, defined by the integration of their purpose, active function, and energy conservation function.

3) The organization and management of adaptive functions, which are continuously evolving, require addressing their root causes. Managing only triggering causes drives to fallacious decisions.

4) The functionality of adaptive functions is defined by the unicist ontogenetic maps, which establish their ontological structures and unicist binary actions.

5) Managing adaptive functions requires transforming them into systemic units to make them operationally manageable, while understanding that they remain essentially adaptive.

6) Unicist binary actions transform the knowledge of the functionality of adaptive functions into operational processes.

7) The unicist double dialectics defines the logical structure underlying the functionality of adaptive systems.

8) The unicist double dialectics integrates the functionality of unicist binary actions and enables the definition of a systemic operational structure for adaptive systems.

9) The unicist ontogenetic logic is used to define functionalist principles, binary actions, and to manage the unicist double dialectics of adaptive systems.

10) Measuring the entities involved in the double dialectical process is based on the use of mathematics developed to manage adaptive systems. This allows for the definition of causal indicators.

11) The functionality of systemic business functions is measured using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which assess effects.

12) The functionality of adaptive business functions is measured using both Causal Indicators (CIs) and KPIs.

Conclusion: Conceptual Design to Address Root Causes

Unicist conceptual design is used to develop business solutions based on the functionalist principles of business functions, which are defined by the intrinsic and extrinsic concepts of internal and external functionality.

Thus, conceptual design addresses the root causes of the functionality of business functions to develop adaptive solutions, transforming them into systemic objects that can be operated without needing to address causality.

Annex: Comparison of Systemic and Adaptive Business Functions

The Functionality of Adaptive Systems

The organization of systemic functions is based on univocal cause-effect relationships, although they may include feedback loops. In contrast, adaptive functions are based on bi-univocal relationships—both among their intrinsic entities and with the environment.

The relationship between systemic functions and their environment is based on asymmetric complementation, whereas the relationship of adaptive functions includes both asymmetric and symmetric interactions.

The Organization of Adaptive Systems

Systemic functions can be organized using operational approaches, provided that the cause-effect relationships of their functions are known.

In contrast, organizing adaptive functions requires understanding the functionality of the involved functions before their operational processes can be effectively addressed.

The Dynamics of Adaptive Systems

Systemic functions are stable and do not evolve. Their functionality can be studied through mechanical cause-effect relationships among their functions.

Adaptive functions, however, are continuously evolving within their environments, which makes it insufficient to evaluate them based solely on cause-effect relationships. Their functionality must be addressed first, followed by their operation.

The Unicist Research Institute