W5H Formula
A Guide for Getting the Facts
| QUESTION | SITUATION | ACTION |
| Why? | Why did it exist?
Why had it not been noticed? Why had it not been corrected? |
Why was it being done?
Why was it being done this way? Why was it (job or detail) necessary? |
| What? | What caused it to exist?
What caused it to be involved? |
What was its purpose?
What other way could it have been done? What details could have been eliminated? What instructions were not followed? |
| Where? | Where was it?
Where was its source? Where else does it exist? Where can I find out? |
Where should it be done?
Where else is it being done? |
| When? | When did it occur?
When do similar conditions occur? |
When should it be done? |
| Who? | Who was responsible for it?
Who can give me answers? Who should take corrective action? |
Who is best qualified to do it?
Who can give me answers? Who can show me what was being done? |
| How? | How should it be corrected?
How can it be avoided in the future? |
How is the best way to do it?
How can it (job or detail) be improved? |
When asking these questions, the order of questioning may vary and backtracking is frequently necessary. The questions ideally will lead you to find out "what happened," then question "why it happened," which helps you decide "what should be done."
| What?---------Why?----------Changes Needed? |