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5 Sos Technique for Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking

Continuously asking “So what might happen next?” to project how one event could trigger another.
5 Sos Technique for Problem Solving and Strategic Thinking

Why You Need to Think Beyond the Obvious

When a problem happens, most people focus only on the cause. We use the 5 Whys Technique and ask, “Why did it happen?” and try to fix it fast.

But problem-solving is not just about repairing the past; it is also about predicting what could happen next. Many teams fix today’s issue but miss tomorrow’s consequences. The 5 So’s Technique helps you avoid that trap by extending your thinking into the future.

What This Technique Is

The 5 So’s Technique is the mirror method of the 5 Whys. While the 5 Whys traces backward to find the root cause, the 5 So’s moves forward to explore possible outcomes and future impacts.

Instead of asking many "Whys", questioning "Sos" allows you to forecast trends, identify hidden risks, and design long-term strategies instead of only short-term fixes.

Core Concept Explained

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