The elegance of 'five whys'

Over the course of a career, tools, templates and techniques come and go (it was fun while it lasted - Excel Macro), but some stand the test of time. The ‘five why’s’ has a simple elegance that give it the enduring qualities to make it a go-to tool again and again.

Business problem rarely exist in isolation. A safety incident, a process failure, or a customer complaint is often just the superficial symptom of a deeper issue. That’s where the Five Whys method comes in. It is a simple yet powerful tool used to uncover root causes and drive meaningful solutions.

By repeatedly asking “Why?” it is possible to move beyond surface-level fixes and uncover the true drivers of an issue. Consider this in a safety investigation:

❌ A transport vendor is having safety incidents. → Why?

🔍 The drivers are fatigued. → Why?

🔍 They are driving long hours. → Why?

🔍 Not enough drivers. → Why?

🔍 Cash flow issues driven by 90 day payment terms.

Instead of just sending the drivers on a driver safety course, the real fix is addressing contracted terms given to the transport company—preventing future incidents altogether.

The brilliance of Five Whys lies in its simplicity. Whether used in safety investigations, internal audits, or business process improvements, it cuts through complexity, sharpens focus, and ensures we’re solving problems at their source.

Contact ⚡Virtus Advisory⚡ to learn more.