Five Whys
Five Whys digs from a surface problem to its root cause by asking "why?" up to five times in a row.
Also called 5 Whys or root cause analysis.
Intermediate◷ 10–20 minFree · no login
What's the problem underneath the problem?
How to use it + an example
How to use it
- 1State the problem as students first see it.
- 2Ask why it happens and write the answer; ask why again of that answer, up to five times.
- 3Rewrite the design problem around the deepest cause students can act on.
Example
"Students forget their PE kit" becomes, after five whys, "there is nowhere to hang a kit bag the night before", which is a problem a product can solve.
When to use it: When defining the problem, to make sure students design for the cause, not a symptom (MYP Design Criterion A).
Define: Say exactly what you're solving.
Your turn ↓
Dig to the root cause
Ask “why?” five times to drill from a surface problem down to what is really causing it.
Look back. Which why changed how you saw the problem?
Try next
- Affinity DiagramGroup and organize ideas into natural clusters to find themes.Try it free →
- Fishbone DiagramMap all possible causes of a problem in a structured visual.Try it free →
- SWOT AnalysisEvaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.Try it free →
For teachers: Define stage · 10-20m. Free, no login. One of the 45 design thinking tools on StudioLoom, which also puts them inside lessons so students’ thinking is saved with their project.