Tool applications
5 Why's: A simply powerful tool for defining the real problem to solve
by Michael Brassard and Diane Ritter
Picture this: You're the principal of a suburban middle school and your standardized test scores in math have declined for the last 2 years. The mandate comes from the superintendent to "get those scores up NOW!" Your school district has adopted a system–wide Performance Excellence program over the last year. The first step in the process is to define the problem so that any possible solutions fix the right level of the system. Where to start? What tool to use?
The power of 5 Why's: In all improvement models, the best place to start is with the "simplest" available tool. 5 Why's is a deceptively "simple" tool. It is simple to understand, often difficult to do well and almost always produces thought-provoking results. To do the 5 Why's, you drill down deeper and deeper into the causes of a problem or symptom by asking "Why" repeatedly of each successive level of cause. Repeat this 5 times or until you start identifying either very detailed causes that are trivial or broad causes that are overwhelming.
Our principal may produce the following 5 Why's list:
- Why are math scores declining over the last 2 years?
- The students are weak in Algebra.
- Why are the students weak in Algebra?
- A new algebra book was adopted 2 years ago.
- Why was a new Algebra book adopted 2 years ago?
- The students found it too boring.
- Why did the students find it too boring?
- The supporting lessons plans were unimaginative.
- Why were the supporting lessons plans unimaginative?
- A lack of teacher professional development.
Consider using the 5 Why's as the first step of your next improvement project.