Five Whys: root cause analysis
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Root cause analysis: find the underlying cause of a problem by asking 'why?' five times in pairs. A Toyota technique.
Activity
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Step-by-step instructions
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Steps
- Show a problem.
- Ask “why?” and note the answer.
- Ask “why?” about that answer again — five times, digging deeper each time.
- The fifth answer is often close to the root cause.
- Discuss the root cause, then move on to the next problem.
Settings
- Problems — required. One per line. You can't start without at least one.
- Time per “why” — optional, default 90 s.
- Auto-advance — optional: let the timer move on automatically.
Tip: generate problems with AI
Out of ideas? Ask Microsoft Copilot: “Give me 3 relatable problems about [topic] suited to a root-cause analysis with '5 Whys', one per line.” Paste the lines into the Problems field.
Tips for the facilitator
This activity develops the ability to think beyond the first, obvious answer and find the real cause of a problem. By asking "why?" five times, participants move past symptoms and quick explanations and learn to separate cause from effect. Choose this activity when a group keeps getting stuck in fast conclusions or blame, for reflecting on a situation that went wrong (or right), or as a stepping stone toward a targeted solution. It works best with a concrete, recognisable problem phrased as a factual observation rather than a reproach.
- One or more concrete problems — set these in the settings, each on a new line. Phrase them as an observable situation ("The assignment is handed in late"), not as a judgement.
- Time per "why" — set this in the settings (default 90 seconds per round, discussed together in pairs).
- A way to record the five answers: on paper, on the board, or digitally. Writing them down makes the chain of causes visible.
- Shorter or longer: stop before five times if the root cause is already clear, or keep going if there is another layer underneath.
- With debrief: have pairs compare their root cause. Different pairs often arrive at a different point — showing that one problem can have several causes.
- Branching: sometimes one "why" has two answers. Let the pair choose which trail to follow, or briefly explore both.
- Appreciative: apply the same question to something that went well ("why did this work?") to uncover success factors.
- Mentoring / reflection: why work keeps being handed in late, why collaboration runs stiffly.
- History: tracing the causes behind an event step by step.
- Citizenship / social studies: reading a social issue back to its underlying cause.
- Physics / chemistry: why an experiment turned out differently than expected.
- Economics: why a company or decision did not produce the intended result.
This activity is based on the "five whys" method by Sakichi Toyoda, developed within the Toyota Production System to address the root cause of breakdowns rather than the symptoms. It develops analytical and causal thinking: the distinction between what you see happening and why it happens.
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