5 Issues with the 5-Why Technique Nobody Talks About

The 5-Why technique is often presented as a perfect tool for root cause analysis. Most project management textbooks suggest that simply asking the question “why” five times will lead you straight to the heart of any problem. While this sounds great in theory, the reality of managing complex projects in the trenches is quite different. Relying on this method alone can actually create new problems for your team and your project’s health.

If you are a project manager or an aspirant looking to build real-world competence, you need to understand where these standard techniques fall short. Blindly following the 5-Why approach can lead to biased conclusions, defensive team members, and a failure to address the actual organizational flaws. Knowing these pitfalls is what separates a professional who just cleared an exam from a leader who can deliver results in a high-stakes environment.

In this video, we break down five specific reasons why the 5-Why technique often fails in practice and what you should be looking out for instead. This session will help you move beyond the textbook and develop a more critical eye for problem solving.

Watch the full video to get the complete picture.

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