[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-161983-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":80,"doc-detail-161983-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","cause-and-effect-fishbone-diagram","Cause and Effect “Fishbone” Diagram","","This document provides a comprehensive guide to creating and utilizing a Cause and Effect Diagram, often referred to as a Fishbone Diagram. It details the definition and primary purpose of this graphical tool, which is to visually represent potential causes of a specific problem or effect, thereby mapping out the relationships between these causes. The document outlines the sequential instructions for using the diagram as a template, emphasizing the placement of the problem statement and the subsequent branching of major cause categories. It highlights the traditional five inputs for any process—Person, Method, Machine, Materials, and Environment—as the foundational categories for analyzing potential causes. The instructions further guide users on identifying and listing sub-causes by employing the 'ask why five times' technique to delve deeper into the root factors. Finally, the text offers crucial advice for effective use, stressing the importance of a narrowly defined problem, data verification for identified causes, and distinguishing this tool from outlining or solution-listing methods.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/","General",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/cause-and-effect-fishbone-diagram/161983/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/cause-and-effect-fishbone-diagram/161983.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Olivia Brown","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/octet-stream","2026-09-20","2026-08-30",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":33},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is a Cause and Effect (Fishbone) Diagram used for?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"A Cause and Effect Diagram is used to graphically display potential causes of a problem, showing the relationships between them. It is typically used in the Analysis phase of problem-solving.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"What are the five main categories of causes to consider when creating a Fishbone Diagram?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"The five main categories of causes to consider are Person, Method, Machine, Materials, and Environment.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"How can sub-causes be identified in a Fishbone Diagram?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"Sub-causes can be identified by asking 'why' five times for each main cause. This technique helps to drill down to the root factors contributing to the effect or problem.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},161983,1788115604,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,88,93,98,103,108,113,118,123],{"id":84,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":89,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":94,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"general-158",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":127},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":124,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":26,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":79,"read_time":22},16904993612988,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Cause and Effect (“Fishbone”) Diagram\nDefinition/Purpose:  Graphically displays potential causes of a problem.  The layout shows cause and effect relationships between potential causes.  Used in the Analysis phase.\nInstructions:  To use as a template, please save a copy by clicking on the save icon.\nPlace the effect or problem statement on the right side of the paper, half-way down; draw a horizontal line across the paper with an arrow pointing to the effect or problem statement.\nDetermine general, major categories for the causes; connect them to the horizontal line with the diagonal lines.\nUse five inputs of every process:\nPerson\nMethod\nMachine\nMaterials\nEnvironment\nNote the major causes and place them under the general categories.  Use brainstorming techniques as needed.\nList sub-causes and place them under the main causes.  To determine sub-causes, ask why five times.\nEvaluate the diagram.  Check that the branches on your cause and effect diagram are worded as possible causes and are arranged in a logical sequence.\nEffective Use:\n1.\tHave a narrowly defined problem or effect to start.\n2.\tCauses on the diagram must be verified with data to confirm that they are real causes.\n3.\tDo not use this tool as an alternative form of outlining.\n4.\tDo not use this tool to list potential solutions.\nEnvironment\nMaterial\nMachine\nMethod\nPerson\nEffect","cbCaihIlZhWS3AsU","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihIlZhWS3AsU","doc",67072,"English","# Cause and Effect (“Fishbone”) Diagram\n## Definition/Purpose\n## Instructions\n## Effective Use","[{\"question\":\"What is a Cause and Effect (Fishbone) Diagram used for?\",\"answer\":\"A Cause and Effect Diagram is used to graphically display potential causes of a problem, showing the relationships between them. It is typically used in the Analysis phase of problem-solving.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the five main categories of causes to consider when creating a Fishbone Diagram?\",\"answer\":\"The five main categories of causes to consider are Person, Method, Machine, Materials, and Environment.\"},{\"question\":\"How can sub-causes be identified in a Fishbone Diagram?\",\"answer\":\"Sub-causes can be identified by asking 'why' five times for each main cause. This technique helps to drill down to the root factors contributing to the effect or problem.\"}]","Cause and Effect “Fishbone” Diagram | DOC"]