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Today’s post is intentionally a quick one and it is about exploring and asking the “Why” question. We’re not here to find all the answers, but instead to explore the process to get to answers. So, read through the following paragraphs and let’s see where curiosity can take you!

Not one But 5 Whys

The 5 Why Root Cause Analysis Technique is one of the many root cause analysis techniques. This technique involves asking “why” five times in order to identify the underlying cause of a problem. Let’s take a closer look at each step of this technique.

Step 1: Define the Problem

The first step in the five “Why” root cause analysis technique is to define the problem. Be clear and specific about what the problem is and how it is affecting your system or process.

Step 2: Ask Why

Once you have defined the problem, ask why it is occurring. Identify the immediate cause of the problem and write it down.

Step 3: Ask Why Again

Now that you have identified the immediate cause of the problem, ask why this cause occurred. Identify the root cause of the problem and write it down.

Step 4: Ask Why Three More Times

Repeat step 3, three more times, asking “why” after each answer to identify deeper underlying causes. By the time you reach the fifth “why”, you should have identified the true root cause of the problem. Be persistent, but ask good questions. Each “Why” question should shed more light on to root cause of the problem. What and how you ask your question correlates with the quality of the responses that you receive.

Step 5: Develop and Implement Solutions

Once you have identified the root cause of the problem, it’s time to develop and implement solutions. Addressing the root cause will help ensure that the problem does not occur again in the future.

The five “Why” root cause analysis technique is a powerful tool for problem-solving, and it can be applied to many different situations. By identifying the root cause of a problem, we can develop more effective solutions that address the underlying issue, rather than just treating the symptoms. So, the next time you encounter a problem, try using the five “Why” root cause analysis technique to identify the root cause and develop lasting solutions.

Quality of the Why Question

Not all “why” questions are created equal, and the quality of the questions we ask can make or break the effectiveness of our approach. In other words, the quality of our “why” questions is directly tied to the quality of our outcome.

If we ask shallow or vague “why” questions, we are likely to receive shallow or vague answers that don’t get us any closer to our desired outcome. On the other hand, if we ask specific, targeted “why” questions that drill down to the heart of the matter, we are much more likely to get results. Therefore, when asking the why question, it’s essential to pay close attention to the quality of our questions and to ensure that we are asking the right questions in the right way.

I end this blog with an interesting interview between a journalist and Richard Feynman. There are different opinions about how this interview went, I personally think it’s a good trigger for reflecting on the “why” question- how one asks it, in what context, when and to whom it’s addressed.