Japanese approach to problem solving: Ask Why? 5 times

Japanese managers are known for solving problems with the technique of the Five Whys. When they face a problem, they ask themselves Why? five times.

The 5 Whys originated in the Japanese company Toyota where it was applied successfully in management. The method complements other corporate quality assurance tools such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen. It is mainly used in the automotive industry.