Fishbone Diagram
A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram maps all the possible causes of a problem under categories such as people, materials, methods and environment.
Also called Ishikawa diagram or cause and effect diagram.
Intermediate◷ 15–30 minFree · no login
Map every possible cause before you pick one.
How to use it + an example
How to use it
- 1Write the problem at the head of the fish.
- 2Draw a bone for each category and brainstorm causes onto it.
- 3Circle the causes the evidence supports most and decide which to test or design for.
Example
A CO2 dragster that veers left gets causes under axles, body, launch and track, and the class tests the axle alignment first.
When to use it: When analysing why a problem happens or why a prototype failed (MYP Design Criteria A and D).
Define: Say exactly what you're solving.
Your turn ↓
Map every cause of the problem
Six bones — People, Methods, Materials, Machines, Measurements and Environment — so nothing that could be causing it gets skipped.
Look back. Which cause would you check first, and how?
Try next
- Affinity DiagramGroup and organize ideas into natural clusters to find themes.Try it free →
- Five WhysDig to the root cause of a problem by asking "why?" five times.Try it free →
- SWOT AnalysisEvaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.Try it free →
For teachers: Define stage · 15-30m. Free, no login. One of the 45 design thinking tools on StudioLoom, which also puts them inside lessons so students’ thinking is saved with their project.