BACK TO THE ROOTS
Why using it?
Investigating an issues in depth, exploring motivations and behaviours. Asking ‘why’ repeatedly helps to iteratively get deeper insights into the issue, e.g. identifying underlying reasons for behaviour, attitudes or beliefs.
What is it?
The 5 WHYS is an exploratory technique. It can be used in a wide range of circumstances as tool to establish a link between root causes and surface problems.
Steps
• Defining clear problem statement.
• Each participant reply on a sticky note and attach it on a white-board positioned in the center of the room so that everybody can see.
• Once everyone replied a new round of “why” question is asked to what they had just written.
• This process continues until 5 “why” questions are asked. At the end participants are asked to volunteer and share their final “why” to the group.
Tips for the facilitator:
Drive the activity giving example to the participants.
Materials needed:
Post-it notes, whiteboard (or simply a poster on the wall), markers, pens.
Time:
45 minutes each round.
Western Cape South Africa, March 2016. With !Khwa ttu trainees.
Windhoek September 2016.