Fishbone Methodology Tips

By: Steve Wilheir .... Click on the author's name to view their profile and articles!!!

A useful tool for completing a root cause analysis on a defined problem is a fishbone diagram. A fishbone diagram encourages team members to work systematically and to look beyond the obvious causes of a problem. The structure of the fishbone diagram allows for potential root causes to be found in a structured manner.

The analysis starts with a problem to be investigated. This problem is written in the form of a question on the right side of the page. An arrow, or sometimes a drawing of a fish head, will point to the question under consideration. To the left of the problem statement, a horizontal line divides the paper in two. This is the "backbone" of the fishbone diagram.

The following collection of bones stand for the primary types of variables that might play a part in the underlying or root cause.
The labels of these subsets are displayed across the upper and lower portions of the page. Arrows lead in the direction of the spinal column and in the direction of the head, creating a herringbone look.

When it comes to managing and appropriating issues for problem domains, there are often quick and easy tricks to remember where to start. For example, manufacturing would use the "6 M's", service and administrative problems would use the "8 P's", service may also use the "4 S's", and more modern analysis also has its own categories.

There are many factors which are responsible for the root cause for each category of issues and the analysis begins once the basic skeleton is ready. There are arrows with the factors written above them, points towards each category line. These category lines also have their own lines pointing into them and further breaks down the factors that contributes to them. As this continues infinitely, due to visible reasons, it is hard to go beyond few levels.

The reasons which causes the end result is analyzed by a team through brainstorming each category, using the skeleton of the diagram. With reference to the context of each category, a question is formed according to the problem and asked the team members to answer them. Generally questions like "why this is happening" is asked and according to the category the question varies to "How do factors influence this category?"

Team members think of useful items to add to the diagram. When they run out of ideas, the brainstorming stops. Then the results are studied in order to find the likeliest cause of the problem. If the same issue appears in multiple categories, it if fair to assume that this is an important root cause. Areas of the diagram are also studied as these areas may also point to something significant.

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For the root cause analysis of a specific problem, a fishbone diagram tool is used. To monitor the potential root causes while brainstorming, this diagram gives a structural way to record. This diagram also helps the team to approach a particular problem in an organized way and to go deep to explore the lesser visible reasons.

Steve Wilheir is a project manager. Learn more about finding the root cause of your organization's teamwork issues, and learn more about fishbone diagramming and his Project Management Course

Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Steve Wilheir