What is 5 Why?

The '5 Whys' is an iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. The primary goal is to determine the root cause of a defect or problem by repeatedly asking the question 'Why?'. Each answer forms the basis of the next question. The '5' in the name is just a rule of thumb; the actual number of questions needed may be more or less than five. This technique is commonly used in problem-solving, root cause analysis, and quality improvement initiatives to identify the fundamental cause of an issue, enabling effective solutions.