1. Analyzing Root Causes of Problems:
The "But Why?" Technique

2. "Root causes" are the basic reasons behind a problem2

3. What is the "but why?” technique?3

4. 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

5. 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 5

6. 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? (and so forth) 6