EMQM 5103

Pillar Diagrams
Alfonso Johan

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

What is Quality?
PMI Definition The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfill requirements

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Quality Tools Categories

Collect Data

Problem Solving

Understand Data

Analyze Process

Understand Process

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Quality Tools Categories

Collect Data

Problem Solving

Understand Data

Pillar Diagrams

Analyze Process

Understand Process

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

What are Pillar Diagrams?

A tool to analyze a situation in which multiple problems are related to multiple causes
Project Quality Management: Why, What and How (p. 120)
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

How to construct Pillar Diagrams?

List Causes and Results

Map Cause to Results

Count Arrows

Identify Root Cause

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Pillar Diagram Example

Causes
Monster A

Results
Fall sick

Scared!
Monster B

Monster C
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Cant sleep

Pillar Diagram Example

Causes
Monster A

Results 2
Fall sick

Monster B

Scared!

Monster C

1
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Cant sleep

Degree of Influence
Sometimes, Degree of Influence is more important than the results affected. For cases like this a weight should be assigned to each arrow from the cause using the values of 1, 3 and 9. The value of 3 is used as the base reference.

1 = Low Influence 3 = Moderate Influence 9 = High Influence

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Weighted Pillar Diagram Example

Causes
9
Monster A 9 Fall sick

Results

1
Monster B 3 3

Scared!

Monster C

3
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Cant sleep

Degree of Influence Calculation

Cause Monster A Monster B Monster C Overall Total Sum Weight % Influence

9+9
1+3+3

= 18
= 7 3

18/28 = 64.3%
7/28 3/28 = 25.0% = 10.7%

18+7+3 = 28
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Weighted Pillar Diagram Example

Causes
Monster A 64.3%

Results 2
Fall sick

Monster B 25.0%

Scared!

Monster C 10.7%

1
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Cant sleep

Points to Note
For effective use, a limited set of causes and results are considered

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Points to Note
A Pillar diagram does not allow deep analysis of causes. Additional analysis needs to be done using other methods e.g. using fishbone diagram

Causes

Monster A

What causes Monster A??

64.3%

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

Points to Note
Weighted Pillar diagrams addresses value of the causes. It does not address value of results. Causes Results $$$ Lost
64.3% Monster B 25.0% Monster C 10.7%
Alfonso b. Johan 2011

= 10,000.00
=
8,000.00

Not Considered!

Monster A

= 25,000.00

Questions & Answers

Alfonso b. Johan 2011

 Alfonso b. Johan 2011