A data professional asks, “Why?” five times. What are they trying to figure out?

The data professional is trying to figure out the root cause of a problem or situation. This is a technique known as "The 5 Whys" that was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda for Toyota's manufacturing methodologies. It's a problem-solving method that seeks to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. Essentially, by repeatedly asking the question "Why", you can peel away the layers of symptoms which can lead to the root cause of a problem. Very often the ostensible reason for a problem will lead you to another question. This technique encourages a deeper understanding of issues at hand.