A structured brainstorming tool, the Fishbone Diagram—also called the Ishikawa Diagram or Cause-and- Effect Diagram—helps project managers find the underlying reasons of issues. Its name comes from the graphic, which looks like a fish’s skeleton where the “head” stands for the issue and the “bones” branching off suggest possible reasons.
When to Use a Fishbone Diagram?
This technique is commonly used for:
✔ Identifying the root cause of project delays, quality issues, or process inefficiencies.
✔ Analyzing complex problems where multiple factors could be contributing.
✔ Preventing recurring issues by addressing underlying causes rather than just symptoms.
How to Create a Fishbone Diagram
- Define the problem statement (placed at the “head” of the fish).
- Identify main categories of causes (e.g., People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment).
- Brainstorm potential causes within each category and add them as branches.
- Analyze and prioritize causes to find the true root problem.
Example in Project Management
A software development team experiences frequent project delays. A Fishbone Diagram may reveal issues such as:
- People: Lack of skilled developers.
- Process: Poor requirement gathering.
- Tools: Outdated testing software.
- External Factors: Changing client requirements.
By visually organizing information, teams can focus on addressing critical issues rather than surface-level symptoms, improving efficiency.
