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Cause and Effect AnalysisGetting 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 GoalsUse 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.
You’re 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
Envi
ronm
ent
Staff
Tim
ing
[Fac
tor]
[Fac
tor]
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
Envi
ronm
ent
Staff
Tim
ing
[Fac
tor]
[Factor]
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Inadequate Skillsets
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
Envi
ronm
ent
Staff
Tim
ing
[Fac
tor]
[Factor]
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Technical Skills
Dated Technology + Layoffs Senior Staff
No Funding
Corporate Performance
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Production CostsWhy?
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
Envi
ronm
ent
Staff
Tim
ing
[Fac
tor]
[Factor]
Recession?
Merger?
Layoffs?
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Skillsets
Inadequate Technical Skills
Dated Technology + Layoffs Senior Staff
No Funding
Corporate Performance
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Production CostsWhy?
