Generic deepening workshop

This workshop helps identify the underlying root causes of issues or problems identified during the Discover stage, eg by probing the red flags identified in a multi-agency workshop.

It also helps understand the underlying reasons for good practice being good, eg by unpicking the green flags from a multi-agency workshop and how that can be applied elsewhere. These root causes need to be uncovered for effective solutions to be developed.

The workshop is based around two deepening tools - 'five whys' and 'fishbone analysis'.

Five whys begins with a clear statement of a problem or issue. Teams then interrogate this statement with the question "why?" This answer in turn is interrogated with the question "why?" and the process continues to work towards uncovering some of the root causes of the issue being considered. The tool breaks down large issues into their component parts, allowing teams to respond with focused actions and initiatives.

Fishbone analysis shares many characteristics with five whys and is similarly used to deepen a team's understanding of a problem or issue. A problem statement is written on one end of a sheet of brown paper and a fish spine extends from this with bones branching off it on which the team records sub-issues. This enables teams to decompose or sub-divide a problem or issue in order to understand better what is causing it.

Both of these tools ensure that the real causes are uncovered and addressed rather than treating the symptoms that are presented. This avoids the very real danger of the project team moving into 'fix-it' mode too quickly and adopting solutions that do little to prevent a problem re-occurring.

Click for other activities supporting the Deepen stage of the targeted youth support change process, or for an overview of the Deepen stage.