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To view this on the COS website, click here [[https://conventionofstates.com/news/five-whys-makes-you-wiser|five-whys-makes-you-wiser]]


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====== Five Whys Makes you Wiser ======


A deeper understanding of the root causes of any problem can be achieved using the 5-Whys methodology. It embodies the natural curiosity of humans that is obvious in children but somehow lost as we become adults.


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|A deeper understanding of the root causes of any problem can be achieved using the 5-Whys methodology. It embodies the natural curiosity of humans that is obvious in children but somehow lost as we become adults.\\ \\ **Blame it on the O-Rings**\\ \\ If you ask anyone familiar with the details of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, “What caused the shuttle to explode?” they will likely say, “the O-rings.” \\ \\ While the “O-rings” is a necessary part of the explanation, it doesn't provide a complete picture of what led up to that fateful moment.\\ \\ You may say, “that’s all I want to know,” and that’s fine; there’s nothing that says that all of the details must be understood by everyone. But for those who want to know the complete story, 5-Whys can help.\\ \\ **A  5-Whys analysis based on the [[https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRPT-99hrpt1016/pdf/GPO-CRPT-99hrpt1016.pdf|Rogers Commission Report]].**\\ \\ * Why did the space shuttle Challenger explode?\\   * Because the external hydrogen tank ignited due to hot gases leaking from one of the Solid Rocket Motors.\\ \\ * Why did hot gases leak from one of the Solid Rocket Motors?\\   * Because the seal between the two lower segments of this motor failed to prevent a leak.\\ \\ * Why did this seal fail?\\   * Because the O-Ring, designed to compensate for seal variations between the segments, failed due to the effects of extreme temperature.\\ \\ * Why did the O-ring fail its intended purpose?\\   * Because there was a known design flaw with the seal.\\ \\ * Why did the mission proceed with a known design flaw?\\   * Because there were flaws in the launch decision-making process, including failure to adequately address problems that require corrective action. Both NASA and Thiokol accepted escalating risk apparently because they “got away with it last time.”\\ \\ **A more comprehensive explanation**\\ \\ Note that while the “Why” question is used to traverse the tree in a downward direction to get to the ultimate root cause, we can use “Because” to help explain the conclusion from the bottom up.\\ \\ For example: Because there were flaws in the launch decision-making process, the mission was allowed to proceed with a known design flaw, etc.\\ \\ This more comprehensive picture of what happened may entice the person who only cared about the “O-Ring” to want to know more about what goes on at NASA. In other words, the issue becomes relevant to them.\\ \\ **Every tool has a purpose and limitations; both need to be understood**\\ \\ Some things to keep in mind while implementing a 5-Whys Root Cause Analysis:\\ \\ * Avoid confusing symptoms with causes – This is a common mistake while analyzing the root cause. Symptoms tell you there is a problem but do not tell you the cause. The oil light on your dashboard tells you there is a problem, but until you investigate further, you won’t know the cause.\\ * Avoid focusing on a single root cause – Often, there is the temptation to ignore other potential root causes once a favorite emerges. This is dangerous because you go down a path that solves only a minor part of the root cause problem. Consider all possible root causes until fully exhausted.\\ * Avoid jumping to conclusions – The team may lose interest and declare premature success. This is where management support is critical. Once again, keep asking “Why” until the answer becomes irrelevant.\\ * Focus on systemic issues, not individuals – Blame should be placed on the system, not individuals. Even if the root cause is that a person made a mistake, we ask, “Why?” The fundamental root cause may be a lack of training, inappropriate hiring standards, etc.\\ \\ **Conclusion**\\ \\ 5-Whys is a structured methodology for finding the root cause of a problem, whether in an automated system or a process. This approach’s power lies in the question, “Why”? “What” happened is usually a much easier question to answer than “Why” it happened.\\ \\ **Challenge**\\ \\ Try using “5-Whys” to answer this question. Why did college tuition rates begin to increase faster than the inflation rate in the 80s? Per the [[https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/hni7zy/us_college_tuition_fees_vs_overall_inflation_oc/|chart]] below.\\ \\ {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/60358/60358_original.jpg?499x499}}|


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|Login Required to view?  |No                  |
|Created:                 |2022-11-04 20:59 GMT|
|Updated:                 |2022-11-30 08:00 GMT|
|Published:               |2022-11-06 04:00 GMT|
|Converted:               |2025-11-11 12:00 GMT|
|Change Author:           |Ernie Borgoyne      |
|Credit Author:           |                    |