1. Diagnosis first
Five Whys + evidence
Getting under the stated problem
Use when
Any sponsor conversation where the presenting problem smells like a symptom
- 1
Stated problem
As the sponsor frames it
- 2
Why 1-2
Push past the first answer; ask for an example
- 3
Why 3-4
Follow the causal chain; demand data or an observation
- 4
Root cause
Usually process, expectations, or incentives
- 5
Fix owner
Route to whoever owns the root cause; often not L&D
How to use it
Discipline rules: every 'why' must be answered with evidence (a number, an observed event), not an opinion; stop when the answer is something someone can own and change. Watch-out: five is a habit, not a law; three evidence-backed whys beat five speculative ones.
Card details
- Model type
- Sequence
- Origin status
- Established
- Content last reviewed
- 28 July 2026
Origin
EstablishedSakichi Toyoda and the Toyota Production System; the evidence discipline added here.