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5 whys method: A practical guide for root cause analysis

5 whys method: A practical guide for root cause analysis

Author NameBy Ima Ocon
•
March 20th, 2025
• 11 min read
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Table of contents

  • What is the 5 whys method?
  • The 5 steps of the 5 whys method
  • What is the relationship between root cause analysis and the 5 whys method?
  • Understanding the 5 whys approach
  • Using a 5 whys method checklist
  • The advantages of a checklist for 5 whys analysis
  • Going digital with 5 why templates
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Summary

Learn how to use the 5 Whys method to simplify root cause analysis and boost problem-solving across your team. You’ll find a step-by-step breakdown, tips for effective use, and downloadable templates to help you get started.

No matter how well-executed a project is, issues and bottlenecks can still appear. But what is the best approach to finding the root cause of the problem and figuring out a solution? Using the 5 whys method can help you figure out the underlying issues of a problem and reach a satisfying and effective solution.

Read on to find out how to use the 5 whys method, with practical tips and examples included. We’ll also show you template resources that you can easily adapt for your team to speed up the process.

What is the 5 whys method?

The 5 whys method offers a scientific approach to quickly and cost-effectively solve problems both big and small. To put it simply, it’s a team-oriented troubleshooting process that asks the question “why?” five times. This allows the inquisitor to discover why the problem initially arose, how best to solve it, and to then implement changes to prevent it from happening again.

Originally, the Toyota Motor Corporation implemented the 5 Whys as a training exercise to teach their employees critical problem-solving skills. Toyota’s technique enjoyed so much success that this method has now been widely adopted by companies looking to provide their employees with a step-by-step problem-solving guide for faster, simpler, and more efficient solutions.

The idea is that this method will inspire a line of thinking in which one question will ultimately flow into the next. From there, you can isolate solutions in a structured manner that facilitates speed and accuracy. By repeatedly asking the question “why?” not only can the origin of the problem and its solution reveal itself, but you can lso identify potential, future issues before they disrupt the workflow. With this mindset, companies can then be on a path of continuous improvement:

The 5 steps of the 5 whys method

Solving problems are easier said than done, especially when the problem has stumped even the brightest minds in the company. The 5 Whys root cause analysis outlines five easy steps to take when the solution is nowhere in sight.

Conduct the following five steps sequentially:

1. Assemble a team

Two minds are always better than one. In this case, a team should be composed of people from different departments because a cross-functional team provides an outside perspective that is critical to making informed decisions.

2. Define the problem

The more information that you gather, the faster you’ll address the root cause. The following questions offer an example of where to start:

  1. What is the difficulty?
  2. When did it occur for the first time?
  3. How often?
  4. Who discovered it?
  5. What were the consequences?

It is important to get an on-site picture and talk to all concerned parties. As much as possible don’t do it remotely or from the desk. It is important at this stage not to make any assumptions that might later lead to the wrong conclusions.

Especially in large companies it can be helpful to use a digital application to collect all relevant information in a knowledge base.

3. Asking “why”

An employee should be assigned as the team leader for the entire duration of the process. He or she will ask questions and see that the team stays on track. Keep in mind that answers should be based on data and facts, not opinions.

The most difficult aspect of this step will be finding the right balance between not inquiring enough and inquiring too much. Too much questioning can lead to inappropriate suggestions and complaints. Therefore, the focus should always be on the root cause.

Sometimes there is more than one root cause for a problem. In these cases, the analysis will look like a matrix with different branches. This can also identify organizational problems that negatively impact overall performance.

One tip that can help when brainstorming questions is to write in a stream of consciousness. The idea behind this is to unburden the mind of assigning blame to anything that might get in the way of solution-based thinking. Let the root of the problem reveal itself through these five questions.

  1. Why is the company’s profit margin lower than last month?
    The profit margin is lower because not all the orders were filled on time.
  2. Why weren’t the orders filled on time?
    The orders weren’t filled on time because the company ran out of supplies.
  3. Why did the company run out of supplies?
    The company ran out of supplies because the shipment wasn’t delivered.
  4. Why didn’t the company receive its monthly shipment?
    The company didn’t receive its shipment because the order wasn’t placed.
  5. Why wasn’t the order placed?
    The order wasn’t placed because there was a break in the chain of communication.

The root problem of this analysis was a breakdown in the company’s internal communication process. The solution would then be to set up recurring orders that are placed automatically so there are no more disruptions to the supply chain and, consequently, the bottom line.

It’s important to keep in mind that this process doesn’t have to be just five questions, and there may be more than one cause for the root problem. Ask the question “why” as many times as necessary until you’ve identified the root cause of the initial problem.

4. Initiate and implement corrective actions

Once you’ve found the root cause of the problem, it’s time to take countermeasures to prevent any similar issues from reoccurring. All team members should be involved in the conversation to find and implement the best solution. Once the team has settled on a solution, create a plan of action that outlines tasks, assigns responsibilities, and follows a timeline.

After a certain amount of time, the team should reconvene and check whether the measures have had a positive effect. If not, you’ll need to repeat the process.

5. Try alternatives

In the instances when more than one cause is the culprit for the root problem, it might be helpful to try the Ishikawa diagram that provides a visual framework for causes and their effects.

If the initial solution doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board or assemble a bigger team. The more minds working together on a problem, the better.

What is the relationship between root cause analysis and the 5 whys method?

First, it’s important to define what root cause analysis is before discussing the relationship between this method and the 5 Whys.

Root cause analysis is the process of uncovering the underlying issue in order to find an appropriate solution. Instead of having to constantly put out fires as problems arise, a team can get ahead of the problem and prevent any subsequent issues by addressing the cause instead of its symptoms.

The goal of root cause analysis is then to isolate the problem, find out what’s causing the problem, and then craft a solution to said problem. Although that’s often easier said than done.

That’s where the five why method comes in. It’s meant to root out this underlying issue by asking a series of questions with the aim to eventually expose the obstacle causing the hiccup in operations. The 5 Whys makes this process go more smoothly by a simple question-answer approach.

Understanding the 5 whys approach

Asking why something is the way it establishes parameters to the overall concept. For example, it’s easier to begin to understand the problem of a headache by first asking, “why does my head hurt?”

It doesn’t suffice to acknowledge the headache by putting an icepack on it and calling it a day. It’s a band-aid solution that may make the head feel better in the short run, but doesn’t effectively prevent the headache from returning.

Below, is a series of questions to help you better understand this line of questioning:

  • But asking, “Why does my head hurt?” lays the premise to solving the problem of the headache.
  • Maybe the answer is, “I haven’t eaten in a day and my blood sugar is low.”
  • The natural next question would be: “Why haven’t I eaten in a day?”

Maybe you bought a new tv that didn’t leave any money left in the budget to go grocery shopping. By understanding the root cause, you can make more in-depth suggestions and find a resolution.

For this example, the obvious short-term solution would be to address the issue of low blood sugar by eating something, but the long-term lesson here would be to put necessity before wanting to prevent this particular dilemma from happening again in the future.

However, this is just a simple example to help understand how this approach makes distinguishing between a problem’s cause and a problem’s effect easier, faster, and more intuitive.

Using a 5 whys method checklist

To make problem solving with the 5 whys method smoother, a pre-made checklist guides you through the steps in a professional format that you can easily share and print out. These pre-made 5 whys method checklists are for documenting the following data:

  1. Company/Organization
  2. Time of implementation
  3. Problem description
  4. Going through the list of why questions
  5. Actions and completion dates
  6. Efficacy consideration

The checklist format makes it easier to identify the root cause of a particular problem and find its appropriate solution. At the same time, the template serves as a tool for action tracking and monitoring. Once yo’ve identified the cause, you can note appropriate countermeasures in the template and implement them immediately.

The advantages of a checklist for 5 whys analysis

There’s nothing better than the feeling of being able to cross an item off the to-do list. For many, the associated rush is both addictive and empowering. It’s the mark of true productivity.

The same is true for a checklist. You can easily apply it to the 5 Whys model to isolate problems of human and technical error and improve the overall productivity of business enterprises.

There are numerous advantages to using this model of problem-solving, but this section will only cover the four most prominent benefits:

  1. Helps discover human error: The use of a checklist makes it simple to identify problematic areas in the
  2. Improved efficiency and productivity: Being able to solve whatever has interrupted the workflow quickly, improves efficiency and productivity, which ultimately translate into crossing off more items on the to-do list in a single day.
  3. Saves time and energy: Using a checklist frees up the mind to solve the problems that truly matter. It presents a straightforward, easy-to-follow guide of the next steps.
  4. Makes delegating easier: Once you’ve identified, it’s just a matter of delegating to the right people who are best equipped to get operations back up and running.

This analysis requires time, effort, and follow-up. However, with the help of a checklist, you can target matters of human error in a snap, ultimately saving your business time, money, and certainly some headaches.

Going digital with 5 why templates

Lumiform’s mobile app for checklists and other templates has everything you need to successfully complete a 5 Whys analysis. Quality and safety checks can be performed easily and shared instantly with the entire team through the app. Thus, corrective actions can be automatically assigned to responsible colleagues and implemented four times faster than the regular pen and paper checklists.

Individual digital forms

The flexible form builder makes it possible to create new individual checklists for the 5 Why method at any time and adapt them again and again.

Scheduling and notifications

The Lumiform app helps you ensure that rhe schedule is followed. All employees receive notifications about the procedure and due dates.

Timed work steps

Everyone on the team keeps track of the schedule through the app and uses all available information to identify the root cause of the problem.

Quick analysis of problems

You can find the data and facts collected during the survey presented as a clean report. Here, team members can access the information. This helps identify the root causes of a problem more quickly.

Tracking actions over time

Lumiform makes it easier to track the implementation and success of measures. This allows for early intervention if corrective actions are not working.

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Choose from our 10,000+ free, customizable templates.
Browse templates

Frequently asked questions

What if 5 whys isn’t enough?

If five questions don’t get you to the root cause, continue asking “why” until you uncover it. The 5 whys method is flexible, and some problems need more digging. However, if you’re finding too many possible causes, focus on the most impactful “why” paths to keep your analysis manageable.

Can I use the 5 whys method for any type of problem?

The 5 whys method works best for straightforward problems with a single primary cause. For complex issues with multiple contributing factors, it’s often more effective to combine it with other methods, like fishbone diagrams or failure mode effects analysis (FMEA), to better capture the full picture.

What are some common mistakes when using the 5 whys method?

A frequent mistake is relying on assumptions or opinions rather than concrete data. Another one is stopping too soon, before reaching the true root cause. To get the best results, avoid blaming individuals and keep the focus on processes or systems that need adjustment.

Author
Ima Ocon
Ima is a writer and editor who specializes in technology, with experience crafting content for companies like Canva and FluentU. She's passionate about startups, remote work, and language learning, as well as the applications of AI in marketing. Currently, she is based in Asia, and she previously studied in Taiwan and Singapore.
Lumiform offers innovative software to streamline frontline workflows. With over 12,000 ready-to-use templates or custom digital forms, organizations can increase efficiency and automate key business processes. The platform is particularly user-friendly, offering advanced reporting capabilities and powerful logic functions that enable automated solutions for standardized workflows. Discover the transformative potential of Lumiform to optimize your frontline workflows. Learn more about the product

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