Have you ever heard of the 5 Whys?
The 5 Whys is a questions-asking method used to explore the cause/effect relationships underlying a particular problem, with the goal of determining a root cause of a defect or problem (source).
The 5 Whys method was created by Sakichi Toyoda and is included in the Toyota Production System, which is a mix of management techniques and ideas. Taiichi Ohno, who designed the Toyota Production System, explained the 5 Whys method as “the foundation of Toyota’s scientific approach . . . by asking why five times, both the problem and its solution become clear.”
So what is so special about the 5 Whys that I have bother to write about it. Simple…it’s simple. And it can also highly effective.
Below is a very basic example that I have put together to demonstrate the 5 Whys methodology in action.
Imagine you had just finalized delivery of your product to a customer. However the product arrived 3 days late. To find out why the product arrived late you decide to undertake a 5 Why analysis.
| Step | Reason | Why |
| 1 | The stock arrived 3 days late. | Why did this happen? |
| 2 | Because a Purchase Order was placed 1 week late with the supplier. | Why was the Purchase Order place 1 week late? |
| 3 | Because the financial feasibility / forecast was delayed. | Why was the financial feasibility / forecast delayed? |
| 4 | Because the Product Team were held up by the Marketing team on what was to be advertised | Why was Marketing holding up the product team? |
| 5 | Because the Marketing team were not aware that their decision impacted the Purchase Order time line | Why was Marketing not aware of their role in the Purchase Order time line? |
| RootCause: | Because the business did not have a clearly articulated business calendar or process map that highlighted key stakeholders involvement in the decision making process. |
In this example we see the issue moving from a late delivery to roles and and responsibilities within a defined process.
Clearly not all issues will have exactly 5 Whys. There may be 4, there may be 7. However it is generally accepted that 5 Whys later usually highlights the root cause.
In part because of it’s simplicity the 5 Whys have been criticized. Indeed Teruyuki Minoura, former managing director of global purchasing for Toyota, has stated that the tool was too basic in analyzing root causes to the depth that is needed to ensure that they are fixed.
While I understand the criticism, I still support the 5 Whys method. As I mentioned earlier, it’s straightforward! Furthermore, it encourages participants to keep asking questions, which leads to a better grasp of problem solving, especially when identifying root causes. Instead of just accepting an issue at face value, this approach eliminates that mindset and promotes a deeper understanding of the specific problem.
As I have stated on numerous occasions, there are a plethora of management tools available to the business sector. Utilise these tools at your own discretion but remember if you do not ask the right questions you will not find the right answers. Unless of course you believe your business can run on good luck. In that case, good luck