The 5 Whys is one way to represent one causal chain underlying the problem you observed. Use this template by following the steps below.
- Identify the problem you want to solve, and write it in the orange box on the top of the template.
- Ask, “Why does this happen?” Write your response in the first blue box. Make sure the cause you articulate is grounded in evidence from external research, your knowledge of the system, and how your stakeholders experience the system.
- Ask, “Why does that happen?” Write your response in the next blue box. Make sure the cause you articulate is grounded in evidence from external research, your knowledge of the system, and how your stakeholders experience the system.
- Continue to ask “Why does that happen?” three more times, writing your responses in the rest of the blue boxes, drilling down to the underlying cause for the problem you observed.
- Write the original or underlying cause in the orange box at the bottom of the template.
- Of course, you can add more “Whys” if you feel there’s more to learn, or use fewer than five if you’re sure you’ve found the root cause.
