This image is a diagram representing the "5 Whys" technique, used for root cause analysis. It starts with a box labeled "Problem" at the top, from which multiple paths labeled "Why?" branch out. Each "Why?" box further branches into more "Why?" boxes, creating a tree-like structure. The process continues until reaching the bottom-most box, highlighted in red, labeled "Root cause." This final box indicates the underlying cause of the initial problem, identified by repeatedly asking "Why?"

Use 5 Sequential “Whys,” not 5 Random Ones, to Dig Deeper Toward a Root Cause

I had an opportunity to coach somebody, remotely, the other day on the Lean problem-solving process called “the 5 Whys.” The person presented a situation like this — I’m changing the details and making up a scenario. The 5 Whys she gave were along these lines: My feedback was that they had asked 5 different and related “why?” questions but they hadn’t really followed the “5 Whys” process. The 5 Whys starts with a problem … Continue reading Use 5 Sequential “Whys,” not 5 Random Ones, to Dig Deeper Toward a Root Cause

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