The 5 Whys Add/remove

Purpose:

The primary purpose is to determine the root cause of a defect or problem by repeating the question “Why” five times according to a predefined problem.

Not all problems have a single root cause why ‘The 5 Whys’ can help explore the root cause.

 

Step by step Facilitating tips Materials needed Goes well with Download template (pdf)

Tips to include participants who are not able to:

See

If participants are unable to see, the method could be performed orally as long as you either record it or make someone else write it down ensuring that the data will not get lost

Move

If participants are limited in motoric abilities, the template is either placed at a suitable height for wheelchair users or placed on the table.
Pair up with another group member, or a documenter or a facilitator, who can do the writing on the template.

Hold

If participants are unable to hold, pair up with another group member, or a documenter or a facilitator, who can do the writing on the template.

Otherwise, the method could be performed orally as long as you either record it or make someone else write it down ensuring that the data will not get lost.

Think

If participants have a hard time grasping the task, pairing up might be beneficial to let participants help each other answering the "Why?"'s.

Speak

If participants are unable to speak, use sign language or other symbol language if an interpreter is present for discussion and presenting. If not, the steps can be done in writing form.

Hear

If participants are unable to hear, use sign language or other symbol language if an interpreter is present for discussion and presenting. If not, the steps can be done in writing form.

Touch

If participants are unable to touch, pair up with another group member, or a documenter or a facilitator, who can do the writing on the template.

Otherwise, the method could be performed orally as long as you either record it or make someone else write it down ensuring that the data will not get lost.

Overview

Input

A defined problem needed to be examined.

Output

The root cause of the problem. Potential multiple root causes.

Complexity

Moderate

Time

15 minutes

Participants

2-15+

Activity

communication, writing, complex thinking

Step by step:

  1. Divide the participants in groups of two.

  2. Hand out templates where you have filled in the situation/problem.

  3. Ask the participants to fill out the template by first reading the problem. Secondly the participants should ask themselves ‘why’ and come up with an answer. Asking ‘why’ 5 times will provide the participants with the root cause of the problem/situation.

  4. Show an example of how to use the method to make it more clear for the participants what to do. The example should not relate to the scope of the workshop ensuring you are not priming your participants.

  5. Ask each group to present their 5 whys.

When doing this method you should consider:

When the participants are filling in the template, walk around and observe their conversations. Both to ensure that they have understood the task but also to hear and note down valuable points that arise through their discussion. The participants are not told to white down anything besides the whys, why it is important to note down their argumentation. 

The last answer points to a process that indicates the root cause for the problem. The question ‘Why’ could be taken to a 6th, 7th or even higher level although five iterations is usually sufficient enough.  

Materials needed:

Template & Pens