Also known as a Ishikawa Diagram, Cause-and-effect Diagram, Herringbone Diagram.

A Fishbone Diagram is a visual tool used to systematically explore the potential causes of a problem or effect. The name comes from its resemblance to a fish skeleton, with the main problem forming the ‘head’ of the fish and the potential causes branching off like ‘rib bones’. The diagram is widely used in root cause analysis, quality defect prevention, and process improvement to brainstorm and identify contributing factors causing an overall effect.

To construct a Fishbone Diagram, first define the problem, write it on the right side of the diagram (the head) and draw a horizontal arrow running to it. Next, identify the major categories of potential causes and draw them as branches (the fish rib ‘bones’) from the central arrow (the categories can depend on the type of Fishbone Diagram (more on that here). After, brainstorm the specific causes within each category and draw them in as sub-branches. You can continue to ask “Why?” for each cause to identify root causes, creating additional sub-branches if needed.

Overall, a Fishbone Diagram is a powerful tool for brainstorming and analysing problems effectively. By providing a structured approach to problem-solving, a Fishbone Diagram helps identify all the root causes rather than just symptoms. A completed Fishbone Diagram can aid in reviewing, diagnosing, and prioritising the causes that have the largest impact. From there, solutions and improvements can be more effectively developed by targeting the key issues.

Tools that can build a Fishbone Diagram:

• ConceptDraw
• Creately
• draw.io 
• EdrawMax
• gliffy
• Lucidchart
• MindManager
• Miro
• SmartDraw
• Venngage
• Visual Paradigm

Examples of a Fishbone Diagram

Fishbone diagram of cause and effect.
What is a fishbone diagram? — TechTarget

Factors Reducing Competitiveness.
Fishbone Diagrams — ConceptDraw

Fig. 2. Brazilian probabilistic cause-effect diagram for incomplete/hidden requirements.
Preventing Incomplete/Hidden Requirements: Reflections on Survey Data from Austria and Brazil — University of Stuttgart

Ishikawa fishbone diagram identifying all identified gaps contributing to inconsistent documentation and sharing of GOC across care settings.
The mouse is mightier than the pen: How electronic medical records have shaped modern medicine UBCMJ — Braedon Paul / ResearchGate

VBKom projects has established that the reverse fishbone diagram can be effectively applied to structure any project brainstorming session.
Companies to benefit from fishbone method — Mining Weekly

Fishbone Diagram (yetiect
Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa): Solve Problems Visually — ESS Online Business School

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