Choke problems with a fishbone.

If you think encountering a problem or roadblock is draining, then you have not met the solution side of things. Program/ project management is a field that involves lots of brainstorming and analysis of problems and risks. Seeking solutions without analysing all possible scenarios a problem can occur or escalate is more like patching up a hole on a roof that has multiple leaks. If rushing to create solutions isn’t the best way, then what’s the way out?

Photo by Gregor Moser on Unsplash

The FISHBONE diagram

This can also be called the “cause and effect” diagram which shows the possible causes of an event or risk. The fishbone diagram is a simple visualization tool used in creating categories for the potential causes of a problem. It helps figure out the reason(s) for defects, variations or failures within a process. This was invented by Kaoru Ishikawa, a Japanese organizational theorist who was also a professor in the engineering faculty at the University of Tokyo, he was noted for his quality management innovations.

The concept of this theory follows the basic skeletal design of a fish;

• The head of this diagram represents the major problem or the effect of the problem.
• The backbone serves as the connecting line where the categories/causes of the links to the root problem
• The ribs branch off the backbone as the major causes of the problem
• The sub-branches or sub-categories shows the root causes of these problems

A generic representation of the Ishikawa diagram aka Fishbone diagram

APPLICATION

When faced with problems, most times it's the effect of several roots-causes, not the problem we see at the surface. The fishbone diagram does not only help you divide the possible causes of the problem into categories that help with better analysis but also sub-categories that shows the root causes of the problem.

This technique can be applied in our daily activities and is not just restricted to project management. It comes in handy when handling risk or complex problems in an organization, tracking possible problems in an ongoing process and many more.

Conclusion

Looking beyond the surface is a valuable skill, knowing how to utilize tools to aid your problem-solving skill is even more valuable. The next time you are on a problem-solving journey, choke it with some fishbones.

REFERENCES

1. Causality of Factors Reducing Competitiveness of e-Commerce Firms — Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-generic-representation-of-the-Ishikawa-diagram-aka-Fishbone-diagram_fig1_317196193 [accessed 21 Sep 2021]
2. ASQ: About Kaoru Ishikawa”. Accessed 17 November 2014