Diagnose problems to get at their root causes.

A principle of investigating the mechanisms and contributing conditions behind a problem before choosing a lasting response. It distinguishes an observed problem from explanations of how it arose, while allowing immediate relief and incomplete causal knowledge.

A problem description says what differs from the intended result; a causal explanation proposes how that difference arose. Keep the two separate long enough to compare plausible explanations. Repeatedly asking why can generate useful candidates, but the questions do not establish that the last answer is true or that only one cause exists.

Choose a useful depth of investigation by the action it could change. A recurring delay may involve unclear instructions, incompatible tools, workload, and individual experience together. Test a supported change and check for recurrence. Immediate relief can proceed while investigation continues, and a person’s behavior should not be converted into a fixed character judgment from one incident.

When to use it

When a problem recurs, a proposed solution depends on an untested explanation, or different plausible causes would call for different actions.

How it can help

Helps avoid repeating an intervention that removes a visible symptom while leaving a supported cause or condition in place.