tl;dr: Many people misuse the 5 Whys by asking five loosely related questions rather than a sequential chain of cause and effect. Real root cause analysis requires disciplined logic–each “why?” should build directly on the last. This post explains how to apply the method correctly, with a healthcare example and practical advice. I had an opportunity to coach somebody, remotely, the other day on the Lean problem-solving process called “the 5 Whys.” The person presented … Continue reading The 5 Whys Only Work When They’re Sequential, Not Scattershot