The cause and effect chart which is also known as the fishbone diagram or the Ikishawa diagram is a commonly used technique in businesses through which, business owners get help to find out not only the problems but with this chart, they can also identify the root causes behind each problem.
This technique or business chart was invented by a Japanese quality control manager and thus it’s named after him as the Ikishawa diagram but as this is a visual presentation of the facts, problems, and after impacts, the diagram has the form of a fish and that’s why it’s also known as fishbone diagram too. This technique was originally invented to make the production team and its members understand the less important solutions to bigger problems. This way was also invented to save time for the companies by defining the problems in a better way so that it’s easier for the owners to find a broader and long-term solution.
Importance of Cause and Effect Chart:
As a business owner, you know that when you or your business encounters a problem, it is just a matter of time before you find a solution to that problem but if you think outside the box, you will understand that the solution isn’t the best idea for the problem if it doesn’t remove the root causes behind the problem. With a cause and effect chart or the fishbone diagram, you find the actual causes behind each problem and this not only gives you enough to work to eliminate the problem from the roots but also gives you an idea about where each solution will lead in the future.
Application of Cause and Effect Chart:
We have explained the invention and purpose of this chart above and thus you can easily understand that this technique is widely used for business purposes. Companies and organizations use this technique to find the problems in the business along with having an inside understanding of the problem so that it is easy for them to understand and find the real causes of each problem at grass root level.
It is easy for managers and supervisors to eliminate a problem for a short period but the fishbone diagram helps those who want long-term solutions to their problems which is only possible when you find out the real causes behind the problem. This way you can eliminate the causes or the roots of the problem for a long time.
In a fishbone diagram, the head is the potential problem that needs to be solved whereas the backbone is just a straight line that attaches each problem or side bone to the backbone which leads them to the key problem.
In a fishbone diagram, you are required to have at least 4 causes of a problem because with less than 2 problems on each side of the line, you can’t form a fishbone and thus the key element gets missed.
Here is a preview of a Free Sample Cause and Effect Chart (Fishbone) Template created using MS Word,
Here is the download link for this Cause and Effect Chart (Fishbone) Template,
