Creating a Fishbone Diagram

Exercise Purpose

This exercise will help you $($and$/$or a team$)$ create a diagram that depicts the underlying causes of the problem you are addressing. As a result, you $($and$/$or your team$)$ will have a visual depiction of the problem and its major causes. The fishbone diagram, or cause$/$effect diagram, allows you and$/$or your team members to better understand, visually assess, and target interventions to address the factors that are causing their problems.

Exercise Instructions $$

$1.$ Think of a major problem or issue you are facing.

$2.$ Create a fishbone diagram:

a$)$ List the problem$/$issue to be studied on the "head$$ of the fish.

b$)$ Label each $$bone$$ of the fish. The major categories typically utilized are:

$$ The $4$ M$$s: Methods, Machines, Materials, Manpower

$$ The $4$ P$$s: Place, Procedure, People, Policies

$$ The $4$ S$$s: Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems, Skills

c$)$ Brainstorm a list of the factors within each category that may be affecting the

problem or issue you are addressing.

$$ As possible causes are identified, determine where to place them on the

fishbone diagram. It is possible that a causal factor will be listed under more

than one category.

$$ As you work, determine what the sufficient amount of detail should be

provided for each major category.

d$)$ When finished, review all of the ideas and circle the ones that are the most likely

causes of the problem. Pay special attention to those items that appear in more

than one category.

e$)$ For those items identified as the most likely or influential causes of the identified

problem, list those items in priority order with the first item being the most

probable or influential cause.

$3.$ Develop a plan to address those cause$($s$)$ that will lead to resolution of your problem.