The 5 Whys is a simple yet powerful problem-solving technique used to uncover the root cause of an issue by repeatedly asking the question "Why?"—five times or more. 

Originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda for Toyota's production system, the method helps move beyond superficial explanations to identify the deeper, underlying problems that may not be immediately obvious. Each "Why?" peels away another layer of complexity, allowing organisations or individuals to tackle problems at their core. This approach is especially effective in governance and policy-making, where addressing the root cause of systemic issues can lead to more sustainable, impactful, and long-term solutions.

Governance often revolves around short-term gains, driven by political cycles and immediate public demands. Election-focused governments tend to prioritize policies that yield quick results, leaving long-term sustainability in the shadows. This leads to the rise of populist decisions, neglecting issues like climate change, infrastructure durability, and educational reforms. The core issue here is the lack of an integrated framework for policy-making that encourages long-term thinking.

Solution: A tech-based governance template can embed long-term planning into policy structures. By using data analytics, governments can forecast the future impacts of decisions and craft policies that address both current and future needs. This ensures continuity across electoral cycles.

One major issue in governance is a lack of transparency and inclusiveness in policy formulation. Decisions made behind closed doors often don't reflect the true needs of the population, leading to disconnects between citizens and their government.

Solution: Enforcing open data standards via tech-based platforms can improve transparency. Blockchain and cloud-based solutions can provide real-time access to policy decisions, budget allocations, and progress reports. Engaging the public in decision-making via digital platforms ensures that policies are reflective of broader societal needs.

When policies fail, it’s often difficult to trace back the decision-making process or hold the right people accountable. This is largely due to outdated governance frameworks that lack clear documentation or decentralized decision-making.

Solution: A tech-based governance template can provide a digital record of every decision, enabling better tracking and accountability. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can help audit policy outcomes and flag inefficiencies or corruption in real time, creating a more responsive and accountable governance model.

Governments frequently implement policies that become outdated or ineffective due to rapid changes in societal, economic, or environmental conditions. The lack of adaptability in policy frameworks means that they often fail to evolve with the changing times.

Solution: A tech-driven template can build flexibility into governance. By leveraging real-time data and predictive modeling, governments can adjust policies on the fly. Automation in feedback collection from citizens, industries, and experts allows continuous improvements without overhauling the entire system.

Even when good policies are developed, their success is often short-lived due to changes in leadership or shifting political priorities. Lack of continuity results in lost progress, as incoming administrations discard previous efforts without sufficient evaluation.

Solution: A standardized, tech-based governance template ensures that successful policies are documented, evaluated, and institutionalized. By maintaining a central digital repository of past policies, their outcomes, and lessons learned, new governments can build upon the success of their predecessors rather than starting from scratch.