5 Whys Business Template

QUICK START GUIDE

– State and note the problem: Begin by clearly stating the initial problem that you are facing and note it down on the template.

– Ask the first ‘Why?’: Ask and write down “Why?” this problem occurred. This forms your first level of inquiry.

– Continue the inquiry: Based on your answer, ask “Why?” again. This forms your second level of inquiry.

– Repeat the process: Continue this process, asking “Why?” for each answer you get. Do this for a total of five levels of inquiry.

– Identify the root cause: At the end of the fifth “Why?”, you should be able to uncover the underlying root cause of the issue. The root cause can sometimes be identifiable within the first through fourth “Why” in all document types. If this happens, you can move on to the corrective action plan.

– Formulate a corrective action: Based on the root cause, write down a corrective action to address the problem and additional notes if applicable.