Fishbone Diagram
Ishikawa Diagram For Your More Complicated Risk Analyses
Fishbone Diagram (Cause-and-Effect) Download
The Fishbone Diagram (also called a Cause-and-Effect diagram or an Ishikawa Diagram) is a simple, visual way to get past surface symptoms and map the real drivers of a problem. “Ishikawa” comes from Kaoru Ishikawa, the quality-management thinker who popularized this method for analyzing root causes, especially in manufacturing and process improvement. You write the problem statement at the “head” of the fish, then brainstorm possible causes along the “bones,” grouping them into categories so patterns become obvious fast.
This download includes two versions:
Blank template so your team can build the structure that fits your reality.
Example template with starter branches for Process, People, Tools, Environment, Management, Measurement, and Material. Those branches are placed in consistent positions for readability, not as a commandment. Use them, rename them, delete them, or add your own.
Quick start
Write a clear problem statement (specific, observable, and time-bound if possible).
Brainstorm causes onto the bones, one sticky-note idea at a time.
Ask “What evidence would confirm this?” and mark the causes you can validate.
Pick the most likely root causes and turn them into experiments or fixes.
Side note: At the very bottom of the download, there’s also a simple SWOT analysis chart. Most teams do not need a printable version. A whiteboard, sticky notes, or whatever’s closest and convenient is usually the best tool for the job.
