Five Whys
Get to the root cause of a problem by iteratively asking Why? five times.
What it is
When to use it
Each answer forms the basis of the next question. Anecdotally it takes 5 iterations to work out the true cause and focus on the 'right' problem.
How to run it
Start by narrowing in on the problem. An example problem is: The vehicle will not start.
Why? – The battery is dead. (First why)
Why? – The alternator is not functioning. (Second why)
Why? – The alternator belt has broken. (Third why)
Why? – The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and not replaced. (Fourth why)
Why? – The vehicle was not maintained according to the recommended service schedule. (Fifth why, a root cause)
More from Discover
Related tools
Pairs well with these other methods from the discover phase.
Hunches & Hypotheses
Surface team assumptions and biases before research so you can listen with a genuinely open mind.
Problem Statement
Frame the problem you are trying to solve by summarising the who, what, where/when and why.
Interview Discussion Guide
Written prompts to guide research questions and structure your interview sessions consistently.