Improving the Fishbone Video
The fishbone diagram is a well known problem solving tool. It’s a key part of Six Sigma programs and one of the “Six Standard Quality Tools” defined by the American Society for Quality.
In an effort to build upon the foundation of the fishbone diagram, we’ve put together a 17-minute presentation that explains 5 important distinctions between a fishbone diagram and a more thorough cause-and-effect analysis (root cause analysis).
The 5 important distinctions we explain in the presentation are:
1. The direction of cause-and-effect.
2. Defining a problem
3. Identify cause-and-effect, not categories
4. Causes have evidence, possible causes don’t
5. Add as much detail as needed
The video also has a white paper that is available for download. The paper shows how the Cause Mapping approach builds upon and refines some of the fishbone diagram’s original concepts. The concepts, examples and exercises involved with Cause Mapping improve the way people analyze, document, communicate and solve problems. The purpose of conducting a thorough root cause analysis is to find the best solutions to prevent an incident from occurring, and a Cause Map helps reach this ideal by efficiently laying out—on one map— the organization’s goals, problems and the systems of evidence-supported causes.
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