Creative Problem Solving
Fishbone diagrams, also called Ishikawa diagrams or cause-and-effect diagrams, are tools used in creative problem-solving to identify the possible causes of a problem. They were invented by Kaoru Ishikawa, a Japanese quality control expert, in the 1960s. The diagrams resemble the skeleton of a fish, with the head representing the problem, and the bones representing the possible causes of the problem.
To create a fishbone diagram, start with the problem statement and draw a box around it. Then, draw a horizontal line to the right of the box, and draw a line at an angle from the horizontal line to the left. This will create the fishbone shape. Label the bones of the fish with categories of causes that might contribute to the problem, such as people, process, equipment, materials, and environment. Then, brainstorm and identify specific factors that could be contributing to each category. Use arrows to connect the factors to the bones of the fish.
Suppose a company is experiencing a decrease in sales. The problem statement would be 'Decrease in Sales'. The categories of causes might be 'People', 'Process', 'Equipment', 'Materials', and 'Environment'. Specific factors that could be contributing to each category might include 'Lack of Sales Training', 'Inefficient Sales Process', 'Outdated Sales Equipment', 'Poor Quality Materials', and 'Inadequate Sales Environment'. The fishbone diagram would connect these factors to the bones of the fish, allowing the company to visualize all the possible causes of the decrease in sales.
Fishbone diagrams are a useful tool for creative problem-solving because they encourage brainstorming and help organize ideas. However, they can be time-consuming to create, and they may not identify all possible causes of a problem. Additionally, the categories of causes may not be appropriate for every problem, and the categories may overlap.
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