This QI tool is used to brainstorm all of the potential contributing factors of your QI issue by asking “why is this happening?” until you arrive at an actionable Root Cause. Although this tool is called a ‘5 Whys tool’ don’t feel limited to asking ‘why?’ 5 times…you may find 3 ‘whys’ is enough, or you may need more ‘whys’ to dig a little deeper before you arrive at a cause you can action. Be sure to involve all of the individuals with knowledge of the issue you are trying to address, including clients/tenants, staff and caregivers.

Download the 5 Whys Template