Understand
Fishbone Analysis
A diagram that sorts the possible causes of a problem into categories before you choose one.
What is Fishbone Analysis?
A diagram that sorts the possible causes of a problem into categories before you choose one.
What you learn
List causes in every category before you settle on one.
When it helps
the causes are still uncertain and you need to widen the investigation across people, process, place and tools.
Use it at work
- Write the problem at the head of the diagram.
- Draw a branch for each category: people, process, place and tools.
- List possible causes on each branch.
- Investigate the likeliest causes, including any category left empty.
Your output
Before you pick a cause, list possibilities under people, process, place and tools. Investigate any category left empty.
Watch for
Settling on the first plausible cause.
Related practices
Sources
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