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
- Decide which problem you want to understand better.
- 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.
- Define the problem you want to understand better. Write this in the right place in the fish-bone diagram.
- Identify the main causes of the problem. Write this in the right place in the fish-bone diagram.
- Examine each cause and identify underlying causes and mechanisms. Write these sub-causes near the corresponding main cause.
- Draw lines between the causes to see the connections.
- 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.