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The fishbone diagram, created by Kaoru Ishikawa, is a simple tool for visually seeing the possible causes of an issue and how it affects the end result. The fishbone diagram is also referred to as the Ishikawa diagram, the cause and effect diagram, or the Fishikawa.

When working as a team, to solve an issue, the entire team would lend their opinions as to what is the cause of an issue. You would record each possible cause and how it affects the end result. Seeing the causes (along with the effects) side by side really simplifies all the contributing factors, and helps to begin the process of fixing the issue at hand.

Breaking down an existing problem or issue into bite-size portions paves an easier road to the solution. Since the entire team is likely to be involved, everyone can offer their own input. This alone provides a great opportunity for education for the entire team.

Root Cause Analysis Training

By giving an issue a physicality on the fishbone diagram, that issue is no longer abstract. It becomes easier to follow and should end in a successful resolution. Any of the cause and effect diagrams will also help prioritize the processes, thus improving chances of future similar issues.

5 Whys Tool Used in Conjunction with Cause and Effect Diagrams

Let’s say you want to get at the root of a problem regarding time management at a local animal rescue, where teamwork is encouraged and enforced. Each team member is assigned a task. As a team, they all must finish before a given time so that the facility can open and let the public in.

The issue is that the team is never finished on time. Using the 5 Whys, a member of each department would ask why until the cause of the delay was revealed. This would be recorded in the diagram to find the actual root cause of the issue. In this case, not delegating time for unforeseen emergencies that come up was the root cause.

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