Exercises

These exercises are designed to help you create and develop your public interest project. Each topic has one ore more exercises. If you have any questions about them, email us at hello@solvingpublicproblems.org

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Identify Root Causes: Five X Why

Source: Solving Public Problems, Chapter 4, p. 90
ABOUT THIS WORKSHEET:
The next step is to break down the problem into smaller units by diagnosing its root causes.Every big problem has small challenges associated with it, and those are more easily acted on.

TIPS:
  • If you get stuck at any point describing the root causes, ask yourself, “Have I failed to identify a cause, or do I simply need more research to finish this?”
  • This exercise will reveal at which level of granularity to tackle the problem. 
  • It may also reveal multiple problems, each of which merits its own problem-definition process.

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Make a “list of whys” that describe why the problem is happening. Try to write down at least five root causes.

Now ask why those problems are happening and see if you can break down the root causes further.

Repeat this exercise five times or until you can go no further.

Can you identify the most important root cause that you are also in the best position to work on and most passionate about?

Hit save once you have completed filling out the worksheet. If you set a password, you can come back and edit it anytime!
If you like to receive your responses via email, please enter your email address below too.
Having trouble with this exercise? Get in touch with us: hello@solvingpublicproblems.org