The Simple Tool For Successful Problem Definition

February 21st, 2019

Human beings have many failings, but one that gets us into considerable trouble is that we often act before we stop to think. We often spend just a few moments assessing a problem before moving to do something about it.  But a tool that originated in 1960s manufacturing that is now commonly used in the start-up world can help mitigate that problem, helping us better understand a problem so that we can come up with much more thoughtful and potentially effective solutions.

Consider the issue of homelessness. Many people think that simply building more housing can solve the problem. While that is definitely part of the solution, someone may be homeless because they have experienced mental illness, substance abuse issues, brain injury, or psychological issues associated with trauma or violence.  Understanding the complexity of that situation can lead to a more effective solution that could include housing, counselling, peer support, medical treatment and a host of other interventions. But if all you ever do is ask “why is someone homeless” and answer by saying “because they need a home”, you are missing a large part of the problem.

There is a simple tool that can help you better understand an issue before you decide what the best solution might be. It’s called the “Five Whys” and was originally developed by Toyota as a way to better understand problems in complex manufacturing systems. 

Here’s how it works. When you ask “why” someone is experiencing a problem, your first answer often provides a cursory understanding of a problem. If you ask why at least four more times, however, you are far more likely to develop a more holistic understanding of the problem.  

Consider our homeless example:

1.   Why is that person homeless?

Because they don’t have a home.

2.   Why don’t they have a home?

Because they were kicked out of the home they had a few months ago.

3.   Why were they kicked out of their previous home?

Because they were hoarding items and created a fire hazard, and were also behaving in an erratic and threatening manner to other tenants.

4.   Why were they acting in that way?

Because they were not receiving effective treatment for their mental illness.

5.   Why were they not receiving treatment?

Because the system has changed to one that requires people to use much more of their own initiative to access care, and many people experiencing mental illness find it difficult to advocate for themselves.

If we had stopped at the first “why”, we would understand the problem as a lack of housing. But by continually asking “why”, we determined that for some people, a solution could involve assisted advocacy or housing options that specifically help those experiencing mental illness.

The Five Whys isn’t a tool to determine the absolute truth about an issue, but if you do it several times and pursue different paths and answers, it will broaden your understanding of the problem you are facing – making it more likely that your solution will be a good fit.

Good luck in your innovation and problem solving!

Read the original article on LinkedIN. (external link)