5 Whys analysis

Tear drop, Ishikawa or list? A guide to choosing

All three formats reach the same root causes if the group works well. What changes is how much they help you, or get in your way, as the analysis grows and needs correcting. Start with your situation or explore criterion by criterion.

1. Tell me about your situation

Three questions. The recommendation changes as soon as you pick an option.

Where will the group work?

In the same room Remotely, with people at ease on digital whiteboards Remotely, with people not at ease on digital whiteboards

How does this group usually get started?

With ideas from the outset It struggles to start; minds go blank

What do you need at the end?

To see and discuss the structure of causes A document for the report or the archive

2. Compare criterion by criterion

Each dot sums up how the format behaves on that point. Click a row to read the full comment.

helps depends gets in the way descriptive

3. See the three formats in action

The animations work through the same case (flash on an injection moulding line) with the same corrections. The table sums up this guide in a single view.

Animation: tear drop → Animation: Ishikawa → Animation: indented list → Summary table →

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