Identify and Fix Root Causes with the Fishbone Diagram
 

We spend an inordinate amount of time and energy on fixing problems, without addressing the root causes of these problems. We can apply fixes, Band-Aids, and creative solutions to problems until we’re blue in the face, but if the root causes of these problems are not addressed, the problems will persist and never go away.

When a house has issues with its foundation, numerous problems can result — such as cracked walls, sloped floors, and uneven doors and windows. You can putty the walls, replace the floors, and jerry-rig the doors and windows all you want, but if the foundation isn’t fixed, these problems will continue to surface.

A root cause is a harmful factor (cause) that is deep, fundamental, and underlying (root). Unless the harmful factor is removed, the undesirable problems will continue. We must identify the root causes of problems and not just address the symptomatic results, and this is done with root cause analysis. Root cause analysis is a method of problem solving that is used for identifying the root causes of faults or problems. It is applied to methodically identify and correct the root causes of events, rather than to simply address the symptomatic results. The correction of root causes has the goal of entirely preventing problem reoccurrence. The fishbone diagram is a very effective tool that can be used to identify and resolve root causes.

A fishbone diagram, also called Ishikawa diagram (after its creator), is a cause-and-effect diagram that shows the causes of a specific problem or effect. It is called a fishbone diagram because its shape is similar to the side view of a fish skeleton (hey, if it looks like a fish, why not call it a fish!). It is a great tool to use for quality control and continuous improvement purposes to identify factors that cause an overall problem. Typical uses are for product design and quality defect prevention, but fishbone diagrams are also quite effective for quality control and improvement of any project.

The problem or effect is shown as the fish’s head, facing to the right, with the causes extending to the left as fish bones. Causes are grouped into major categories to identify and classify various sources leading to the problem or effect. The figure above shows a fishbone diagram example for the problem low stakeholder satisfaction, something we can all relate to. The four major categories that can be identified as leading to this problem include: 1) project management, 2) deliverables, 3) communications, and 3) the project team. For each of these categories, specific causes that lead to low stakeholder satisfaction are identified and documented.
 
 
With this information at our disposal, we can now develop corrective strategies to address the root causes in order to improve the problem of low stakeholder satisfaction. Fishbone diagrams enable us to organize the reasons and causes for a particular problem in a convenient visual format. It’s a great tool that can be developed quickly on a whiteboard or easel and can facilitate effective root cause analysis and group discussions. Give it a shot!

For more information on how we can assist you with your project and business challenges, visit us at www.reschgroup.com or give us a call at 1-201-803-4653.