BlueDragon was developed out of necessity in 2015 by Rob De La Espriella, a Root Cause Analysis Subject Matter Expert from the commercial nuclear power industry and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
What is BlueDragon RCA?
The Problem
Before BlueDragon, traditional problem-solving methods were not effectively solving complex, recurring technical and human and organizational performance problems. Mostly because the traditional RCA tools and techniques in wide use were developed between the 1920s and the 1970s. These tools are no longer effective in the modern work environment.
The Solution
By integrating the best elements of traditional RCA tools and techniques with advanced principles, BlueDragon became the most efficient and effective RCA method in any industry. BlueDragon is founded on the principles of critical thinking, high reliability organizations, systems theory, behavioral analysis, and much more.
Our Framework
BlueDragon is a state-of-the-art approach for solving technical and human-centric problems. It takes into account the complexities of the modern working environments and integrates RCA tools and techniques into a seamless approach.
BlueDragon supersedes traditional, dated RCA methods.
BlueDragon Name
Without fail, everyone wants to know how we picked the name “BlueDragon.” Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with Eastern Mythology. If fact, the story of how we selected the name is quite simple. In my family, we each have a funny animal spirit. And my children designated me as “daddy the dragon,” because they thought I was smart. (i.e. Dragons are known to be the smartest of mythical creatures). And blue happens to be my favorite color. Put them together, and the name BlueDragon sailed through the Registered Trademark process!
Vision, Mission & Ethics
Our Vision
"A world where industries and governments operate free from costly, recurring failures, because their people think critically, think in systems, and solve problems at their roots"
BlueDragon envisions a future where the Joint Force, the defense industrial base, and the nation’s nuclear enterprises operate free from the costly, recurring failures that jeopardize lives, impede readiness, and waste resources, because their people think critically, think in systems, and solve problems at the root. The vision grows from the life’s work of creator Rob De La Espriella, a former Navy nuclear submarine officer, decorated NRC inspector, and Deming Prize team member with four decades of solving complex problems in high-stakes environments.
Since 2017, BlueDragon has established itself as a leading authority in solving complex and even wicked human, organizational and technical problems in high-stakes environments. Our U.S. Patent-Pending AI-enhanced framework represents a paradigm shift in problem-solving: it combines human ingenuity with artificial intelligence, critical thinking, systems level thinking, and Lean/Agile principles, to solve what traditional methodologies cannot. BlueDragon investigations have saved clients millions while protecting lives in environments where failure is not an option.
Our Mission
To optimize the human performance system of the organizations that defend the nation and power it, so their people rapidly find and permanently eliminate the root causes of costly, recurring failures, protecting lives, strengthening readiness, and advancing national security.
We achieve this mission through three integrated approaches:
(1) We sharpen how people think, building critical thinking, systems thinking, and first-principles thinking into the workforce. (2) We give them one integrated framework, enhanced by AI on internal language models, that carries a team from symptoms to root causes to corrective actions that prevent recurrence. (3) Then we strengthen the system around them: the leadership, culture, processes, and lines of defense that set people up to succeed or fail. Every engagement delivers a measurable, sustained return on investment.
Whether partnering with us to resolve a critical failure, up-skilling teams through certification programs, or implementing BlueDragon across the enterprise, organizations gain more than a methodology; they gain a sustainable competitive advantage built on scientific problem-solving, organizational resilience, and a culture that prevents problems rather than perpetually reacting to them.
BlueDragon is led by veterans dedicated to solving costly, recurring problems that put people and missions at risk. Our team includes former senior military officers, federal agency executives, PhDs, and industry experts who solve the most complex, even wicked, human and organizational problems that threaten critical infrastructure and national security. We focus on two sectors: national defense, including the Joint Force, the defense industrial base, and the DOE and NNSA nuclear security enterprise; and commercial nuclear power. We are the team to call when you cannot tolerate a repeat of a significant event or cannot sustain excellent performance.
Our Code of Ethics
To conduct ourselves as servant leaders.
DLE employees and subcontractors are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest principles of business ethics and is committed to conducting our business activities with honesty, integrity and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We also believe in conducting ourselves as servant leaders, focusing primarily on the growth and well-being of clients and our employees, and the communities to which they belong. We encourage our staff to put the needs of others first and help everyone around us to develop and perform as highly as possible.
Credentials That Matter
Rob has done for cause analysis what Motorla did for Six Sigma, clearly and concisely bundled proven RCA tools into an effective method encompassing critical thinking, visual information, and succinct communication of a problem and its deepest seated causes.
Sandia National Laboratory
The biggest difference is it gives us a really systematic approach to conduct the causal analysis. A lot of people say, “Where do I start?” By going out and building the barriers and building the lines of inquiry from there, it made it easier for the team to stay on point and build a comprehensive causal analysis.
Deputy Director of Management Assurance System Office, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
“The strengths of the BD201E workshop were that the instructor was top-notch, the sharing of stories and experiences, and the teaming. The Breakout sessions were a great experience and challenged us to perform. Breakout sessions also helped to network with other causal analysts. My overall impression of BD HCA is that it was awesome! It was a great use of 4 days of training, and I would highly recommend this course and methodology/flow.”
Sandia National Laboratory
“Brought the critical thinking and causal analysis methods, logic and approach up to date since we have used older tools for so long and were getting limited results. Very excited to begin applying this method and replacing the older Think Reliability one. Mr. De La Espriella is a great teacher, and I hope to continue learning and growing this method as time goes on. Everyone at my work site should take this class, including our federal oversight. I loved the class and will recommend it to all the causal analysts at Sandia National Lab.”
Sandia National Laboratory
“The BlueDragon Root Cause Analysis process has positive momentum with “pull” from all levels of management. The use of causal analysis and increase in corrective action plan quality are beginning to show positive results in the consistency and discipline in the CA
approach.”
Contractor Assurance Manager at SRNS
“The BlueDragon Root Cause Analysis course is very well structured and professionally laid out much like an MBA course. First, the concepts are presented and then fun and entertaining team exercises drive home the concepts by challenging the participants with interesting real-world case studies “
MBA, PMP
“A great course! Should be folded into the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy and commercial industries. The BlueDragon approach was fantastic! BlueDragon techniques are a great way to efficiently improve operations and safety. They will help you complete your mission and lower costs.”
Retired, Oak Ridge National Lab
“My team and I started using BlueDragon in 2019. BlueDragon is a method for conducting root cause analysis and complex problem solving in a disciplined, efficient and accurate manner. I have not utilized a methodology that better identifies the causes of problems and makes sure the causes fit the effects like BlueDragon does. My Team consistently received excellent reviews on BlueDragon causal evaluation reports from our higher headquarters. I recommend BlueDragon as the industry standard, in not only root cause analysis but problem-solving in general. “
Los Alamos National Laboratory (2023)
Our Solutions
BlueDragon provides both education in the form of training courses and certifications, and consulting services such as team leadership and coaching/mentoring.
Trusted by
Trusted by organizations where getting it right matters.
