Framework
Free worksheet

5 Whys

Walk down five levels of 'why' to get from a surface symptom to a root cause. Type each answer; it becomes the next question.

Why 1
Surface symptom
Why 2
Why 3
Why 4
Why 5
Root cause

Your work saves automatically to this browser as you type.

Want AI to refine this?

Sign up free to save your worksheet, sync across devices, and let AI suggest what you missed.

Save & sign up →

What is the 5 Whys technique?

Ask why five times

When to use it: Operational problems — when symptoms keep recurring and you suspect a deeper cause.

Why it works: Forces causal depth past the first plausible answer; each 'why' usually surfaces something you'd otherwise miss.

Want the deeper guide? Read the full 5 Whys entry →

Save your work permanently

What you write here saves to this browser, so closing the tab is safe — but only this browser. Sign up free to keep it across devices, run AI refinement on what you wrote, and export a one-page strategy brief.