About the Tool

Cause and Effect Analysis was devised by professor Kaoru Ishikawa, a

pioneer of quality management, in the 1960s. The technique was then
published in his 1990 book, "Introduction to Quality Control."
The diagrams that you create with are known as Ishikawa Diagrams or
Fishbone Diagrams (because a completed diagram can look like the skeleton
of a fish).

Although it was originally developed as a quality control tool, you can use
the technique just as well in other ways. For instance, you can use it to:

 Discover the root cause of a problem.

 Uncover bottlenecks  in your processes.
 Identify where and why a process isn't working.

How to Use the Tool

Follow these steps to solve a problem with Cause and Effect Analysis:

Step 1: Identify the Problem

First, write down the exact problem you face. Where appropriate, identify
who is involved, what the problem is, and when and where it occurs.

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Then, write the problem in a box on the left-hand side of a large sheet of
paper, and draw a line across the paper horizontally from the box. This
arrangement, looking like the head and spine of a fish, gives you space to
develop ideas.

Example:
In this simple example, a manager is having problems with an uncooperative
branch office.

Figure 1 – Cause and Effect Analysis Example Step 1

(Click image to view full size.)

Tip 1:
Some people prefer to write the problem on the right-hand side of the piece
of paper, and develop ideas in the space to the left. Use whichever approach
you feel most comfortable with.

Tip 2:
It's important to define your problem correctly. CATWOE  can help you do
this – this asks you to look at the problem from the perspective of Customers,
Actors in the process, the Transformation process, the overall World view,
the process Owner, and Environmental constraints.
By considering all of these, you can develop a comprehensive understanding
of the problem.

Step 2: Work Out the Major Factors Involved

Next, identify the factors that may be part of the problem. These may be
systems, equipment, materials, external forces, people involved with the
problem, and so on.

Try to draw out as many of these as possible. As a starting point, you can use
models such as the McKinsey 7S Framework  (which offers you Strategy,
Structure, Systems, Shared values, Skills, Style and Staff as factors that you
can consider) or the 4Ps of Marketing  (which offers Product, Place, Price,
and Promotion as possible factors).
Brainstorm  any other factors that may affect the situation.
Then draw a line off the "spine" of the diagram for each factor, and label each
line.

Example:
The manager identifies the following factors, and adds these to his diagram:

 Site.
 Task.
 People.
 Equipment.
 Control.
Figure 2 – Cause and Effect Analysis Example Step 2

(Click image to view full size.)

Step 3: Identify Possible Causes

Now, for each of the factors you considered in step 2, brainstorm possible
causes of the problem that may be related to the factor.

Show these possible causes as shorter lines coming off the "bones" of the
diagram. Where a cause is large or complex, then it may be best to break it
down into sub-causes. Show these as lines coming off each cause line.

Example:
For each of the factors he identified in step 2, the manager brainstorms
possible causes of the problem, and adds these to his diagram, as shown in
figure 3.

Figure 3 – Cause and Effect Analysis Example Step 3

(Click image to view full size.)

Step 4: Analyze Your Diagram

By this stage you should have a diagram showing all of the possible causes of
the problem that you can think of.

Depending on the complexity and importance of the problem, you can now
investigate the most likely causes further. This may involve setting up
investigations, carrying out surveys, and so on. These will be designed to test
which of these possible causes is actually contributing to the problem.
Example:
The manager has now finished his analysis. If he hadn't looked at the problem
this way, he might have dealt with it by assuming that people in the branch
office were "being difficult."

Instead he thinks that the best approach is to arrange a meeting with the
Branch Manager. This would allow him to brief the manager fully on the new
strategy, and talk through any problems that she may be experiencing.

Tip:
A useful way to use this technique with a team is to write all of the possible
causes of the problem down on sticky notes. You can then group similar ones
together on the diagram.

This approach is sometimes called CEDAC (Cause and Effect Diagram with
Additional Cards) and was developed by Dr. Ryuji Fukuda, a Japanese expert
on continuous improvement.
Key Points
Professor Kaoru Ishikawa created Cause and Effect Analysis in the 1960s.
The technique uses a diagram-based approach for thinking through all of the
possible causes of a problem. This helps you to carry out a thorough analysis
of the situation.

There are four steps to using the tool.

1. Identify the problem.

2. Work out the major factors involved.
3. Identify possible causes.
4. Analyze your diagram.
You'll find this method is particularly useful when you're trying to solve
complicated problems.
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MoeAmante 2021-05-22 15:43:13
successmyo 2020-10-24 04:21:10
အလွန်ကောင်းမွန်ပါသည်
Alex81 2020-08-08 15:57:40
migasmonday 2020-04-20 19:21:10
JeanneStemmet 2020-04-01 17:36:01
This is an excellent way of taking a less subjective approach to route cause analysis. Thank you
for the succinct and practical description.

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Comments (36)
 Over a month agoBillT wrote
Hi AnotherFrancis, and Welcome to the Club!

As with my response to Alex81, not everyone will find the example the most useful,
as is the case with you.

We appreciate your feedback.

BillT
Mind Tools Team
 Over a month agoAnotherFrancis wrote
Nice article but, like Alex81, I didn't find the example to be very helpful.
 Over a month agoBillT wrote
Hi Alex81, and Welcome to the Club!

Thank you for your feedback on the Cause and Effect Analysis. I agree that not
everyone may find the example the best way to demonstrate the resource. This
diagram has also been known as the Ishikawa Diagram or Fishbone Diagram. You
may find additional resources with better examples for you.

Also, you may wish to post this in the Forums so that our members can provide their
input into the topic.

BillT
Mind Tools Team
View All Comments

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REFERENCES

Ishikawa, K (1990). 'Introduction to Quality Control,' Tokyo: 3A

Corporation.
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