If you just want the worksheet then here it is! Otherwise, read on to understand the 5W2H tool and how it can be applied to software development process improvement.
What is 5W2H?
The 5W2H tool is used to solve problems. The 5Ws are:
- What
- Why
- Where
- When
- Who
And the 2Hs are:
- How
- How often
Answering these primary questions leads to a more holistic understanding of the problem than might be reached by a less structured investigation. There are many other tools for solving problems, but 5W2H is simple, effective, and widely used.
5W2H for process improvement
One application of the 5W2H tool is process improvement. A process can be broken down into components and each component can be subjected to 5W2H.
Individual components of a process can be effectively analyzed using 5W2H because the primary questions posed by 5W2H require knowledge about the context. A question like Why cannot be answered for a component of a process without investigating the interactions between the component and the rest of the process. As a result, any process improvement created using the 5W2H tool will improve the process overall, not just the component in isolation.
The 5W2H tool can be used as-is with no additional information, but when using it for specific purposes it can be improved with guidance specific to that purpose.
My worksheet for 5W2H process improvement
I have created a 5W2H worksheet for software development process improvement. There is one row for each of the 7 primary questions. Each row has three steps: Understand, Evaluate and Integrate.
- Understand: Gather information about what is happening.
- Evaluate: Apply gathered information to reach a conclusion on the effectiveness of what is happening. This should include supporting evidence.
- Integrate: Use the evaluation of what is happening to decide whether something needs to change and if so what specific changes would result in the desired improvement.
As you complete the worksheet you travel down the rows and gain a more complete understanding of the problem. You incrementally apply that understanding to the potential solution. When the worksheet is complete, the final solution will take into account a holistic view of the problem. The worksheet can be accessed here.