Identify the problem
Write it down and try to describe it shortly. If you’re working in a group, this will help everyone to focus on the same problem.
The 5 Whys is a problem solving technique to discover the root causes of a problem. It involves looking at any problem and asking "Why?" & "What caused this problem?", generally five times.
The concept of 5-why is simple:
Write it down and try to describe it shortly. If you’re working in a group, this will help everyone to focus on the same problem.
Why did this happen? Come up with one or several causes that answer that question.
If the cause you just provided doesn’t identify the root cause of the problem, ask “why did this happen?” again.
Repeat step 2 and 3 five times or even more if necessary until you’ve identified the root cause(s).
Find solutions and countermeasures to fix the root cause.