Fish-bone diagram

Fish-bone diagram

What

A fish-bone diagram is a visual structure (resembling fish bones) that shows an issue’s underlying causes and mechanisms.

Why

A fish-bone diagram helps understand the problem and identify its main causes, which gives you pointers for solving it.

How

  1. Decide which problem you want to understand better.
  2. Elaborate the structure of the fish-bone diagram (see the sample template) on a whiteboard, flip chart, wall or table, or use the sample template.
  3. Define the problem you want to understand better. Write this in the right place in the fish-bone diagram.
  4. Identify the main causes of the problem. Write this in the right place in the fish-bone diagram.
  5. Examine each cause and identify underlying causes and mechanisms. Write these sub-causes near the corresponding main cause.
  6. Draw lines between the causes to see the connections.
  7. Change the order if you wish, for example by creating clusters of interrelated causes. Assign names to the clusters and use different colours to give visual emphasis to the order.

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