Troubleshooting
*tk maybe link up to some kind of general problem-solving note? *
Troubleshooting is the process of diagnosing specific root causes and points of failure in a system.
Try to isolate subcomponents and individual mechanisms within the system. Use the process of elimination to narrow in on the source. For best results eliminate the easy-to-test and most-upstream factors first.
Double check your assumptions.
Don't forget to RTFM