MyMap5 Whys Root Cause Analysis
The prompt
Run a 5 Whys analysis on our delayed feature release
Make your own version
About the framework
Investigate why a feature release slipped
This vertical 5 Whys diagram begins with a feature release that was three weeks late. Five Why? diamonds alternate with answer blocks: scope expanded, requirements were unfinished, a product and engineering kickoff did not happen, no standard feature-start process existed, and planning had remained informal.
The final block labels the root cause as No structured feature kick-off process. The example contains 12 nodes including the problem and conclusion, all connected in one chain. It presents one explanation without evidence attachments, alternative causes, or corrective-action owners.
Use the chain as a discussion example rather than proof about a real delay. Replace each answer with a finding from your own timeline, check whether it explains the preceding step, and branch the diagram when evidence points to more than one cause.
What's included
What you get
- A starting problem describing a three-week release delay
- Five Why? questions with five specific answers
- A connected chain of 12 nodes
- A proposed root cause focused on feature kickoff process
5 Whys Root Cause Analysis
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What root cause does the sample identify?
It ends at the absence of a structured feature kickoff process, after tracing scope changes back to informal product and engineering planning.
Does asking five times prove the root cause?
No. The five answers form a proposed causal chain. Validate each link with project records and consider other explanations before choosing an action.
Does the template include corrective actions?
No. It ends at the root-cause statement. Ask for an action, owner, due date, and a way to check whether the change prevents another delay.
5 Whys Root Cause Analysis
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