When to Use
Look: Construct a dialog that
interrogates the logic of a position, allowing you the means for deconstructing
group perceptions, surface underlying assumptions and issues.
How to Use It? Convene a group of willing participants;
Write the perceived problem on flipchart paper for all participants to see;
Ask participants why the problem exists;
Repeat by asking “why” until a plausible root cause surfaces
Make sure there is shared understanding regarding what the “root” cause is,
and potential resolutions for this problem.
Requirements
People:
5-whys is a flexible tool that can
be used with a number of different audiences including large plenary
discussions, or small-break-out groups. The tool is best used when participants
have detailed knowledge regarding a particular issue or problem. Time:
5-whys is usually completed in a short period of time,
approximately 30 minutes-1 hour.
Examples
Non-conformance
Components are being delivered
late to our customers. Why 1
Why were we unable to meet the
agreed-upon timeline or schedule for delivery? The job took much longer than
we thought it would.
Why 2
Why did it take so
much longer? Because we under estimated the complexity of the job.
Why 3
Why did we
underestimate the complexity of the job? Because we made a quick estimate of
the time needed to complete it, and did not list the individual stages needed to
complete the project.
Why 4
Why didn't we do this?
Because we were running behind on other projects.
Why 5 and Root Cause
Why are we
running behind on other projects? We do not allow enough manufacturing/lead
time when issuing quotations to our clients.
Links Louie C.K.: Daughter
Asking Why 5
Whys Guide and Template 5
Whys: Getting to the Root Cause of a Problem 5 Whys: Harvard
Business Review Better
Evaluation: The Five-Whys Method | 