Introduction to the 5-Why Method
The 5-Why Method is a problem-solving technique designed to identify the root cause of issues and develop targeted solutions. The process begins by asking “Why” repeatedly, getting more specific with each inquiry. This is done in order to identify the underlying issue or cause of the problem and develop a plan to address it. It’s a simple yet effective approach that has been used by individuals, teams, and organizations all over the world. The 5-Why Method can be especially helpful for tackling complex problems or those that have multiple moving parts or causes.
How To Implement the 5-Why Method
The 5-Why Method can be implemented in a few simple steps:
- Look at the problem at hand and ask, “Why did that happen?”
- Gather relevant data which helps to answer the question.
- This answer might be the cause, but most likely not the root cause. Hence take the recent answer, look at it as a symptom and not as a cause, and then ask, “And why is that?”
- Repeat the last two steps in a loop until the answer isn’t a symptom anymore, and you can’t break it down any further.
It takes 5 Whys on average to get down to the root cause. That’s where the name of the method comes from. But sometimes you need fewer Whys, and sometimes you need more iterations. The actual number of Whys needed doesn’t even matter. The whole point is repeatedly questioning the cause until you reach the root cause, which is not a symptom anymore.
Benefits of the 5-Why Method
Most teams stop after the first Why and look for a fix. This is usually leading to disappointment since the fix didn’t work as expected. No wonder, since it just has been a symptom of another underlying cause.
The 5-Why Method can help move away from treating the symptoms and dive deeper into understanding the root cause. Thereby it helps to develop a more targeted strategy that can provide long-term solutions instead of short-term fixes. Additionally, it can reinforce team dynamics and collaboration since data gathering, brainstorming, and problem-solving are done together as a team.
Moreover, the 5-Why Method is simple to understand and can be easily adapted to almost any problem-solving scenario or situation. It doesn’t require much preparation, making it especially attractive for teams that are pressed for time and need quick solutions. Furthermore, due to its repetitive structure, it can also help to avoid getting stuck in one way of thinking and to uncover hidden information.
Example of the 5-Why Method for Problem-Solving
Let’s say a team has identified an issue with the website loading slowly. The initial problem is often described as “the website is loading slowly.” This is not the root cause yet, but rather a symptom of the underlying issue. To find out what the actual root cause is, you can use the 5-Why Method:
- Why is the website loading slowly?
Answer: The server is responding very slowly. - Why is the server response time slow?
Answer: The server needs quite some time to process requests. - Why does the server take so long to process requests?
Answer: The database is slow and is not optimized for performance. - Why is the database not optimized for performance?
Answer: When creating the database, extra fields have been added during the setup which are not relevant for request processing. - Why are extra fields stored in the database that are not necessary for processing requests?
Answer: For historical reasons, for testing purposes, and we didn’t clean up and forgot about them.
The root cause has now been identified: extra fields were stored in the database that were not necessary for processing requests.
Now Team A, which usually stops after the first Why would have added expensive server power. They spent some serious money and the problem would have resurfaced eventually after the number of datasets in the database grew over time.
Team B went through with the 5-Why method, did a database clean-up, and removed the unnecessary fields. What was the smarter move?
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 5-Why Method is an effective problem-solving technique that can be used in various areas of life, work, and problem-solving endeavors. It helps individuals and teams delve deeper into issues, identify underlying causes, and develop targeted solutions. Implementing it requires minimal preparation and effort. And yet it can lead to meaningful results. Ultimately, it can be used to uncover the root cause of issues and create meaningful change by providing clear paths toward resolving them. So, why not give it a try? You may just surprise yourself!