Ensuring the who, what, when, where, how, and why
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The Kipling List is taken from a very short poem by Rudyard Kipling: “I had six serving men, they taught me all I knew, there names were What and Where and How, and Why and When and Who”.
And that is all the Kipling List is. Six areas to explore different facets of a situation, for example in problem solving. Or, as a planning tool, to develop robust strategies.
These six ‘questions’ are also known as the 5Ws and H, or the journalists’ questions. This is because they reflect the six key questions a story should cover. From a business perspective, they help to ensure that all the loopholes are covered.
As a Template, the Kipling List encourages groups to explore the areas simultaneously. Engaging them to participate collectively in developing a clear and agreed picture.

Track your progress to ensure the efficacy of this strategy.