Unveiling the root cause: A guide to problem analysis with Ishikawa diagram.
It all began with a simple curiosity — I asked my friends if they encountered any recurring problems in their everyday lives. It may be very simple, but still better if it was solved. The responses were both illuminating and relatable.
The issues they shared included budget overspending, the constant demise of indoor plants, battles with procrastination, a lack of motivation to work out, the ever-present grip of technology addiction, and the debilitating consequences of poor posture leading to back pain. As I delved deeper into these problems, I realized that I was no stranger to their challenges.
Each of these issues resonated with me on a personal level. Whether it was the guilt associated with impulsive spending or the frustrating cycle of neglecting my indoor plants until they withered away, I found myself connected to these everyday dilemmas. And so, I embarked on a journey to seek solutions, beginning with the issue of budget overspending.
I wanted to improve my friend’s everyday lives and help them navigate the challenges that come with it.
Ishikawa method (fishbone diagram):
Initially, I sought to identify the underlying causes of this problem by employing the Ishikawa method. As I continued engaging in discussions with my friends to better understand the cause of their problems, it became evident that they often possessed few insights into the causes but were unsure how to effectively address them.
Upon hearing their perspectives, I decided that these causes could be categorized into four distinct groups:
Personal Factors: Some issues stemmed from deeply ingrained personal behaviours and tendencies.
External Influences: Others were influenced by external factors, such as societal pressures or peer influence.
Financial Habits: A significant subset of problems was tied to long-standing financial habits and routines they had adhered to over time.
Lack of Proper Budgeting: Lastly, a common thread was the absence of structured budgeting and financial planning.
5 whys method:
In this method we ask “why” multiple times, typically five, to uncover the underlying or root cause of a problem. This is the second problem-solving technique I used to understand the problem. It works by drilling down into the problem, moving beyond surface-level symptoms, and identifying the deeper issues that contribute to the problem’s existence. I have applied the 5 whys method to a few of the causes to get an understanding.
Emotional spending (personal):
1. Why? Why are you emotionally spending?
— to cope with stress.
2. Why? why do you cope with stress by spending?
— it gives temporary relief.
3. Why? why are you okay with only temporary relief?
— because I don’t know any good coping mechanisms.
4. Why? why don’t you know any good coping mechanism?
— because I have not prioritised my health.
5. Why? why have you not?
— I don’t know where to start. Don’t know where to get resources from (root cause).
Underestimating Expenses (no proper budgeting):
1. Why? Why do you underestimate your expenses?
— I have not done any proper budgeting.
2. Why? Why don’t you have a detailed budget?
— I haven’t taken the time to create one.
3. Why? Why haven’t you taken the time to create a budget?
— I feel like budgeting is intimidating and time-consuming.
4. Why? Why do you find budgeting to be intimidating and time-consuming?
— I don’t have the necessary financial knowledge and skills.
5. Why? Why don’t you have the necessary financial knowledge and skills?
— I never received formal financial education, and I haven’t sought out resources to learn (root cause).
Newly financially independent (financial routine):
1. Why? Why are you overspending on your budget?
— I’ve recently become financially independent.
2. Why? Why is becoming financially independent causing you to overspend?
— I’ve never had the opportunity to spend like this before.
3. Why? Why is having the opportunity to spend leading to overspending?
— I am indulging in spending without a clear budget or financial plan in place. Because I have never done it.
4. Why? Why are you not implementing a budget or financial plan despite recognizing the issue?
— I do not have the knowledge to create an effective budget.
5. Why? Why don’t you have the knowledge or tools to create an effective budget?
— I haven’t taken the time to educate myself about budgeting and financial planning, and I may need guidance in this area (root cause).
The root causes of the problem are:
- I don’t know where to start. Don’t know where to get resources from.
- I never received formal financial education, and I haven’t sought out resources to learn.
- I haven’t taken the time to educate myself about budgeting and financial planning, and I may need guidance in this area.
After I had found the root causes of a problem and figured that it could be solved with design, I decided to add these features to the design so that it would help the users.
The features that I could add to the design (based on the root causes):
From these methods, it became clear that my friends primarily needed two things:
Financial Guidance and Budgeting Skills: They lacked knowledge in managing their finances and creating budgets effectively.
Health Prioritization and Stress Management: They also needed tools and strategies to focus on their well-being and better manage stress, ultimately helping them avoid overspending.
Conclusion:
Through this project, I’ve come to grasp the intricate nature of budget overspending. It’s more than just a superficial problem. It’s a complex issue with many interconnected factors. By using tools like the “fishbone diagram” and the “5 Whys” method, I was able to dig deeper into the underlying causes of budget overspending. This project has truly enhanced my understanding of the problem.
From Now On, I will be tackling my everyday challenges with the 5 Whys method. What about you?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
