Have you ever considered the underlying reasons behind the events that occur around you? While it is true that you may have pondered this, I am confident that you have not delved deep enough to comprehend the root cause. In the intricate maze of life's challenges, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of symptoms and root causes. While it's easy to bandage the evidence, delving deep into the origins of issues often requires a methodical approach. Welcome to my blog, where we explore the art and science of problem-solving, critical thinking, and the transformative power of asking "Why?" Dive in with me, as we unravel complexities and shed light on the solutions hiding beneath the surface.

Introduction of 5 Whys model

The "Five Whys" is a problem-solving technique developed within the Toyota Production System. The idea behind this technique is to drill down to the root cause of a problem by asking "Why?" five times. By doing so, one can move beyond addressing symptoms and instead target the underlying issue.

Here's a simplified example to demonstrate the concept:

Problem: The car won't start.

1. Why? The battery is dead.
2. Why? The alternator is not functioning.
3. Why? The alternator belt has broken.
4. Why? The belt was well beyond its useful service life and not replaced.
5. Why? The car was not maintained according to the recommended service schedule.

Root Cause: The car was not maintained according to the recommended service schedule.

Apply 5 Whys in real life

Considering this, the 5 Whys technique can be applied to various aspects of our lives. Take, for instance, the scenario of a broken phone. Do you ever think about the underlying cause? Often, we may simply attribute it to a dead battery or impulsively decide to purchase a new one without further consideration. This tendency can lead to intellectual complacency. However, it is essential to recognize that every event has a cause. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a habit of critical thinking and reflect on the occurrences around us. This practice serves as a mental exercise, training our minds to delve deeper and uncover the hidden complexities beneath the surface.

It is important to note that the number 5 is not always the definitive number for the model. Sometimes, you may find that you only need to ask 3 whys, while other times, you may need to ask 7. The key lies in asking the right questions to uncover the underlying cause.

The first question is typically focused on the immediate reason behind the problem. The second question delves deeper into the issue, but it's important that the answer provided makes sense and doesn't lead to a dead end. The answer should lead to the root cause and not try to prematurely conclude the investigation. Once an answer is found, it is crucial to ensure that it is logical and reasonable, avoiding unhelpful or ungrateful responses.

The 5 whys in data analysis

Applying the "5 Whys" technique in data analytics can be instrumental in diagnosing data discrepancies, understanding surprising results, and fine-tuning analytical models. Here's a step-by-step guide to leverage this method:

1. Identify the Issue

   • Start with a clear and specific data-related problem. This could be an unexpected trend, a data discrepancy, or perhaps an anomaly in your findings.

2. Ask the First Why

   • Investigate the immediate cause of the problem. If, for instance, a sales report shows a sudden drop in sales for a particular month, the first question might be: "Why did sales drop in this month?"

3. Drill Deeper

   • Based on the answer to your first "why", ask another "why" to probe deeper. Using the sales example, if the answer to the first "why" is "There was a significant reduction in website traffic," the second "why" might be: "Why was there a reduction in website traffic?"

4. Iterate

   • Continue the process of asking "why" in response to the previous answer. Each level should help you delve deeper into the root cause. Sometimes, you might discover data collection issues, modeling errors, external factors, or even business process disruptions that influence the data.

5. Find the Root Cause

   • The goal is to identify the underlying reason causing the problem. This might be technical (e.g., a tracking code on a website stopped working), external (e.g., a significant event or a competitor's campaign diverted traffic), or business-related (e.g., a discontinued product line).

6. Implement Solutions

   • Once you've identified the root cause, the next step is to devise and implement solutions. For data analytics, this could involve fixing data collection methods, adjusting analytical models, or making strategic business recommendations.

7. Document and Share

   • Ensure that insights and findings from the "5 Whys" analysis are documented and shared with relevant stakeholders. This not only educates the team but also helps in avoiding similar issues in the future.

A Few Tips:

• Collaborate with other team members during the analysis. Different perspectives can offer new insights.
• Ensure you have access to relevant data sources to verify each answer. Sometimes, your "why" may lead to more data collection or adjustments to data gathering techniques.
• Remember, the "5 Whys" is a guideline. In some situations, three or four "whys" might suffice, while in others, you might need to ask "why" more than five times to get to the root cause.

Combine Whys and So to think deeper

The next level of the 5 Whys mindset involves combining the 5 Whys with the So What method. Let's take an example:

An editor named K, with 10 years of experience, steps into the office and opens his computer. He comes across an announcement stating, "According to the company's regulations and policies, employees who have worked for four or more years will have the opportunity to replace their computers. However, the company has decided to consolidate this benefit only for employees who have worked for six or more years to ensure fairness in policy."

This is a new policy adjusted by the Logistics Department. Although it doesn't directly affect Mr. K, it triggers a thought process in him.

He realizes that the laptop replacement policy has been changed from every two years to every four years!

So what? Who will be affected?

The answer is veteran employees. According to the old policy, employees who have worked for six or more years would receive a new computer every four years, while those with over six years would receive one every two years. This policy was a favor for long-time employees.

So what? What will be affected?

This will affect the Report Department because half of the department consists of veteran employees.

So what? What will happen?

Based on this, Mr. K deduces that reducing the frequency of computer replacements will save a small amount of money. However, this cost is insignificant compared to the company's overall operating expenses.

So why? Why does the company want to cut this small cost?

Perhaps it's because the revenue of the Report Department in the previous six months was not good. Traditional media has been affected by new media methods, causing them to struggle with regular news and fail to deliver in-depth reports and high-quality news.

So why? Why does the company want to hide this issue?

The Report Department is affected, but the extent of the impact is hidden from the Board of Directors. Consequently, the company has resorted to lying to its employees, stating that the cost-cutting measure is necessary to save money.

Through deep analysis, Mr. K gradually understands the company's problem. Thus, a thought appears in his mind: "A gentleman should stay away from danger!"

After that, he resigned from his job immediately and created a community account to operate independently. One year later, one of his ex-colleagues tells him that their company has suffered significant financial losses. While former colleagues lament the economic downturn and salary cuts, making life difficult, Mr. K breathes a sigh of relief. After all, his community account has amassed over 10,000 fans, and his monthly advertising revenue has already surpassed $50,000.

Mr. K demonstrates exceptional problem-solving abilities by employing a deep-thinking mindset. Through the combination of the 5 Whys and 5 So methods, he accurately identifies the underlying issues that led to the company's failure. Moreover, he successfully navigates his path toward success by finding the right direction in his life. It's possible that you may encounter a similar situation at some point, and if you understand how to apply this method, you can achieve a favorable outcome for yourself.

Conclusion

Whether in learning or working, adopting a mindset of deep thinking will yield benefits. The approach involves logic along two dimensions. When faced with an issue, it is necessary to step back to identify root causes, then move forward to explore potential outcomes. In short, repeatedly asking "why" - the 5 Whys method - hones one's mindset to uncover fascinating insights behind problems.