The 5 Whys tool, rooted in the work of Sakichi Toyoda from the 1930s, is a simple yet powerful method for uncovering root causes so we can design meaningful and lasting solutions. When an issue or opportunity arises, the technique involves asking ‘Why?’ multiple times—typically five—to dig deep and reveal the core of the problem. Often, you’ll discover useful insights even before reaching the fifth ‘why’. The tool’s simplicity is deceiving though - it takes practice to stay focused on ‘why’!