Business Process Management Center

Cause-and-Effect Diagram

A Cause-and-Effect diagram is also known as an Ishikawa diagram, after its inventor, or a Fishbone diagram, because of its shape. A Cause-and-Effect diagram is an effective way to organize the possible causes and details leading to a problem.

To create a Cause-and-Effect diagram, write the problem or condition in a box on the right hand side of your drawing. Draw a single horizontal line (the backbone of the fish) with an arrow pointing to the problem.

Now attach diagonal directional arrows to the main line representing the main causes. Place all possible details under the appropriate headings. SmartDraw provides a number of Fishbone diagram templates, but depending on the unique nature of your process or condition, you may want to create your own using SmartDraw's automatic Fishbone connector lines.

A cause-and-effect diagram may highlight one or more "master causes" that appear again and again throughout different categories. Eliminating one of these master causes can provide great leverage toward improving your process.