Ishikawa Fishbone

Improving on the Fishbone
Effective Cause-and-Effect Analysis: Cause Mapping®

By Mark Galley

In 1950s Japan, Kaurou Ishikawa became one of the first to visually lay out the causes of a problem. His fishbone, or “Ishikawa Fishbone,” helped visually capture a problem’s possible causes and, ultimately, has become a standard in root cause analysis and Six-Sigma programs. It begins with a problem, then identifies possible causes by separate categories that branch off like the bones of a fish. Its categories—typically including materials, methods, machines, measurement, environment and people—can be modified to better match a particular issue

As an enhanced tool that captures problems and solutions visually, the Cause Mapping method expands on some of the basic ideas of the fishbone diagram for a clearer, more accurate and more specific cause-and-effect analysis. Cause Mapping uses a systems-thinking approach to root cause analysis and incident investigation that improves the way people analyze, document, communicate and solve problems.

1. Cause Maps Tie Problems to an Organization's Overall Goals
2. Cause Maps Read Left to Right
3. Cause Maps Focus on Cause-and-Effect, not Categories
4. Cause Mapping Focuses on Evidence-Based Causes
5. Cause Maps Focus on Systems Thinking