| Latin | German | English | Sample Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quis | Wer | Who | Who performs or needs ? |
| Quid | Was | What | What action or information ? |
| Quando | Wann | When | At what time ? |
| Quomodo | Wie | How | How is it done or needed ? |
| Cur | Warum | Why | Why is it done or needed ? |
| Ubi | Wo | Where | Where is it done or needed |
| Quibus auxiliis | Womit | With what | With what tools/help is it done ? |
Given a problem or situation to analyze, or an enterprise to architect, one can develop a detailed description of the task at hand by obtaining answers to the seven 'W' interrogatives for the perspective under consideration. Not all seven iinterrogatives are always necessary, but the seven questions are (always) sufficient.
The seven interrogatives, usually referred to as the "7 Ws", go back to the work of Joachim Georg Daries (1714 - 1791). He used the seven Latin terms to define philosophical categories.
The term "7 Ws" is commonly used because all seven questions start with a 'W' in German (it's 6 out of 7 in English).
The interrogatives are used in in such diverse areas as Project Management, Business Analysis, Enterprise Architecture and Journalism.
Enterprise Frameworks, such as The Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture™, commonly apply the first six interrogatives to six audience perspectives.
