Cause and Effect Analysis

Getting to the Root Cause of Problems and Understanding their Impacts

Why Are We Using This Technique?
ASSUMPTION: You Have a Problem
Jumping straight to defining solutions often leads to failure. You may
have a problem now because the current solution addresses the wrong
problem.
Understanding your problem completely means you can define a complete
solution, versus a partial one which could lead to long-term failure.
Defining a solution to a problem without conducting a
cause/effect analysis is like shooting an arrow without aiming.
You are ensuring that the solution you define will really hit the
mark.
How Does It Work?
Your Goals
Use the Ishikawa (aka: fishbone, herringbone, cause and effect, fishikawa)
diagram to drive a discussion about the issues you face
Identify the root (the real, most elemental) cause of your problem.
Discover bottlenecks or inefficiencies in your process.
Youre going to use the fishbone diagramming technique
developed by Kaoru Ishikawa to get to the root of your problem.
(Breaking a big problem down into granular causes)
Identify The Problem
State the problem as you understand it now.
Express it in three words or less.
This is the Effect
Problem
Statement
Effect
Identify The Factors Involved
Identify the big things that might be involved in causing the
problem.
Problem
Statement
Effect Causes
Brainstorm Potential Causes
Drop each cause into a category. Create new categories and
adjust old ones as needed. Include primary and secondary
causes. The group should agree on the diagram as it evolves.
Problem
Statement
Effect Causes
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Identify THE Critical Cause(s)
Identify one (if possible) cause to focus on. Use the 5 whys
technique to ensure you are focusing on the right level of
granularity (i.e. - identifying the root cause).
Projects
Grinding to a
Halt
Effect Causes
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Technical Skills
Dated Technology + Layoffs Senior Staff
No Funding
Corporate Performance
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Production Costs
Why?
Review & Discuss Next Steps
Now that you know what the real problem is, how will you solve
it?
Projects
Grinding to a
Halt
Effect Causes
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Technical Skills
Dated Technology + Layoffs Senior Staff
No Funding
Corporate Performance
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Production Costs
Why?