Back to Basics: Keep asking "Why?" "Why?"

Yesterday, I was in the UI developer workshop where the Process expert, Brian was giving us tid bits on how to be better developers, how to troubleshoot issues, how to drill down to the core of the issues. And this is what he underscored ...........................

KEEP ASKING "WHY" ATLEAST FOR 5 TIMES.

This is not a technique something he invented. But we(homosapiens) maneuver this skill right from childhood. Only that as we get old...we forget the basics. Don't you remember those days when we kept asking our parents "mama, why?"..............."but why, dada?".......

For example, the following can be a conversation between a 4 year old and her parent............

"WHY is the sky blue?" - "Because apparently, God is Yahoo's fan and hence he painted it in blue"

"WHY is God yahoo's fan?" - "Because Yahoo is a humble, somber portal"

"WHY is yahoo humble?" - "Because David Filo and Jerry Yang are from Stanford"

"WHY are they from Stanford?" - "Because they have been very good kids and good students"

"WHY are they good kids?" - "Because they never bugged their parents with WHY questions like you do."

Well, for kids - You can beguile, deceive, cozen them with imbecile answers like the above, since you have the clout. But hell no, it doesn't work in work environment. Nevertheless, the skill is the same - Keep asking "WHY" until you can ask no more and asking more doesn't make sense to you. And that will help you get to the bottom of the problem and understand what the root cause to the problem might have been.

Something like -
"WHY did my code fail?" - "Because the UI designer made wrong assumptions"

"WHY did he make wrong assumptions?" - "Because the BSA put in wrong requirements."

"WHY did he squeeze in wrong requirements?" - "Because he was drowsy in the lengthy requirement sessions"

"WHY was he drowsy?" - "Because the temperature in the room is so comfortable"

The plausible solutions can be - ratchet the temperature to keep everyone awake in meetings
(Well, you know I am desperately trying to make something up, but hey - you can apply to real time work issues)

So, don't forget - Keep asking "WHY?"