5 Whys +

Here is a simple set of creativity you can use to improve on results from 5 Whys. It works because of the additional questions that examine the necessary and sufficient conditions for a root cause.

#5whys+

* "{this}. Why?"
* "How could we verify that {this} is a root cause?"
*(,) "How sure are we that the cause of {to} is {from}?"
*(,) "Is {from} necessary for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "What else other than {from} could cause {to}?"
*(,) "Is {from} sufficient for {to} to occur?"
*(,) "Ask yourself: If {from} had not been, could {to} have happened?"
* "Will {this} always happen if all attributed causes happen: {inputs}?"

Here is the output generated when you click on block 2, using Laser Extent (MyCreativity):


1.   [The alternator is not functioning]. Why?
2.   How could we verify that [The alternator is not functioning] is a root cause?
3.   Will [The alternator is not functioning] always happen if all attributed causes happen: [The alternator belt is broken]?
4.   How sure are we that the cause of [The battery is dead] is [The alternator is not functioning]?
5.   Is [The alternator is not functioning] necessary for [The battery is dead] to occur?
6.   What else other than [The alternator is not functioning] could cause [The battery is dead]?
7.   Is [The alternator is not functioning] sufficient for [The battery is dead] to occur?
8.   Ask yourself: If [The alternator is not functioning] had not been, could [The battery is dead] have happened?
9.   How sure are we that the cause of [The alternator is not functioning] is [The alternator belt is broken]?
10. Is [The alternator belt is broken] necessary for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
11. What else other than [The alternator belt is broken] could cause [The alternator is not functioning]?
12. Is [The alternator belt is broken] sufficient for [The alternator is not functioning] to occur?
13. Ask yourself: If [The alternator belt is broken] had not been, could [The alternator is not functioning] have happened?