1. The Five Whys Mental Model
The speaker describes asking why repeatedly to get beyond an initial explanation. He uses the technique to understand requirements and causes before choosing a technical solution.
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0:48 · 24 August 2023
How To Find Out The Root Cause Of Any Software Development Problem
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Transcript
senior developer mental models 10 out of 10. The five whys, this mental model has been built to help top executives dig beyond the surface and find the underlying cause of any issue, how by asking why five times in a row. As a software developer, I use this model in technical discussions, code reviews, bug fixing, and even technical interviews. Asking my product manager why again and again might seem a bit annoying.
But it helped me better understand what they are really trying to build and propose the best technical solution. During interviews, asking the five whys, it's a sign of seniority, it shows that you don't just jump by the code, but take your time to understand the full situation before. I know it might seem simple, almost dumb, but the five whys model took my developer career to a whole new level. But don't take my word for it, take it out and see it for yourself.