I think it always helps to attach the why to a requirement. In several instances I have tagged each requirement with a driver, pulled from either the organisation;s scorecard or from the project charter or business case.
Examples:
1. Call centre staff average handle time must not increase due to complex or difficult system interfaces - drivers; keeping costs down, standard user experiences with systems, standard customer experiences.
2. Automate a manual payments report; drivers - ensure the job is carried out at a cnsistent time, ensure that the report doesn't get 'crowded out' by other work, ensure the report is produced in a consistent format over time
3. Put the order form on the website - drivers - cost mangaemnet, 24 customer access, drive out data quality issues
These are three simplistic examples.
Also take a look at the User Story format of requirements specification.
Lastly, I suggest that the what, how and why of requirements is less of a sliding scale and more of a series of concentric circles. You peel layers back, as you drill in, and each time the immediate context changes from one to the next.