Dear Daughter,

In your career (and in your life) it is good to find ways to analyze situations and find out what the essence of a problem is. Knowing the real problem in a situation will not only help you solve the root problem, but also avoid the same problem in the future. The method I like to use for this is called the 5 Whys Method. This technique was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda and was used within the Toyota Motor Corporation during the evolution of its manufacturing methodologies. It is a critical component of problem-solving training, delivered as part of the induction into the Toyota Production System.

I’ve used the 5 Whys to figure out if I should change my job, why projects kept on being delayed, what caused quality control issues on projects etc.

You start this process with writing a clear problem statement, then continue asking “Why?” until you get to the bottom of the problem. This method is great if you are working with a team and you can collaborate to answer the 5 Whys.

An example I’ve used with my team is:

We are at risk of missing the final design approval from the Client.
Why?
Because the design team doesn’t have time to work on the designs this week
Why?
Because they are spread too thin
Why?
Because they have too many projects on their plate
Why?
Because we don’t have enough designers
Why?
Because we haven’t been able to find designers to hire
So the root problem is that we didn’t see the hiring need earlier to start recruiting in time, so we need to update our resource process

The trick is to not ask too many Whys, and to stick to the 5. Focus on finding the root cause. Once you figure out the root cause(s), it is time to take actions and solve the issue. As a Project Manager (and you are the PM of your life), the 5 Whys Method is a great way of operating and should become a habit to use for every project and initiative.

Here we go - Why does my daughter not clean her room….? jk!

Love,

Mamma