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Analyzing Root Causes of Problems:

The "But Why?" Technique

Copyright © 2014 by The University of Kansas

"Root causes" are the basic reasons behind a problem

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What is the "but why?” technique?

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Why should you identify root causes?

• It can be used to find which individual factors could provide targets of change.
• It can explore social causes.
• It can uncover multiple solutions for a problem.

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When should you identify root causes?

• Whenever addressing a community problem.
• When there is support for a "solution" that does not seem to get at the real causes.
• When there is ignorance or denial of why a problem exists.

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The “But Why” Technique

Problem:

Too many (too few) people are ________.

Q. But why?

A. Because . . .

Q. Could that have been prevented?

A. Yes.

Q. How?

Q. But why?

A. Because . . .

Q. But why?

(and so forth)