The 5 whys technique

Sakichi Toyoda's 5 whys technique is a way to solve problems by drilling down to their core cause:

• Spot the issue: Pick out a clear problem, like "Users are leaving the app."
• Ask "why": Start with the first "why" to get the immediate reason. "Why are users leaving the app?" The answer might be "the checkout process is too complicated."
• Keep asking "why": Keep questioning, digging deeper each time. This peels back layers, revealing more about the problem.
• Find the core problem: By repeatedly asking "why," you eventually hit the core reason. You might discover "Users leave the app because the checkout doesn't have clear, user-friendly steps."

This technique helps you discover the real issues and create a focused problem statement, setting the stage for effective design solutions.