5 W'S & H

This is a very simple questioning technique for helping the team make sure it has addressed each of the six questions categories implied in the name:

WHO
Ask this question to get a 360 degree view of who's involved in the problem itself;

WHAT
Ask this question to focus on what the actual problem scenario is. Answering this question involve identifying the problem, the potential causes and solutions, and the processes involved.

WHEN
The time-focus issue may involve any point in time relevant to the topic (i.e. implementation and planning process, chronological sequences etc).

WHERE
Although simplistic, answering this question encourages team members to investigate such things as physical locations, process issues, or offices of accountability and decision making authority.

WHY
Seeks to determine cause (use caution - don't let a red herring get you disctracted. If this question generates too much discussion, you may need to back up in the problem solving process and resolve these issues first).

HOW
This question can refer to cause and processes (how did this happen?) or it can look at solutions (how can we fix this?).

The team needs to construct its six questions as they relate to your problem or task, record them at the top of a flip-chart page, and then spend some time brainstorming answers to each question.