Five-Why Analysis
Definition
A root cause technique that drills deeper by repeatedly asking "Why?" until reaching an actionable cause.
The Five-Why Analysis is a Step 2 (Analyze) technique that starts with a symptom and repeatedly asks "Why does this happen?" Each answer reveals a deeper cause. The name suggests five iterations, but the actual number varies — stop when you reach a cause that is actionable and within the team's control. Often used after the Fishbone Diagram identifies the top suspected causes.
Related Tools
Related Terms
Root Cause Analysis
The systematic process of identifying the underlying causes of a problem, not just its symptoms.
Fishbone Diagram
A visual cause-and-effect analysis tool that maps potential causes across structured categories.
Symptom
A visible effect of a problem that recurs if only the symptom is treated, not the root cause.
Where This Fits in the PIPS Methodology
This concept is used in Step 2: Analyze — Root cause analysis (fishbone, 5-why, force-field).
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