The Importance of the 5 "Whys" in Root Cause Analysis

What are the 5 "Whys" to be considered during a Root Cause Analysis?

A. Who, Why, Why not, When, What
B. Who, What, When, Where and Why
C. Why, Why, Why, Why and Why
D. Who, Who, Who, Who, and Who

Answer:

The 5 "Whys" in a Root Cause Analysis are: Why, Why, Why, Why and Why. This method seeks to identify the underlying cause of a problem through repetitive inquiry.

Explanation:

The 5 "Whys" to be considered during a Root Cause Analysis are option C: Why, Why, Why, Why and Why. This technique involves asking 'Why' multiple times until the underlying cause of a problem is determined. It often requires at least five iterations of asking 'Why' to drill down to the root of the issue. The goal is to move beyond addressing superficial symptoms of the problem and to find the fundamental cause, allowing for the most effective solution.

It's important to differentiate between the five Ws used in journalism (Who, What, Where, When, and Why) and the five Whys used in root cause analysis. In the latter, each 'Why' question aims to peel back a layer of the problem, much like peeling an onion, to reveal what's at the core.