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Ishikawa diagram

Skill itzcull/thinking-skills/skills/ishikawa-diagram

Use an Ishikawa diagram to identify possible root causes of a problem by organizing contributing factors. Use when diagnosing defects, declining metrics, failures, or complex cause-and-effect issues.From its SKILL.md

Install
npx -y skills add itzcull/thinking-skills --skill ishikawa-diagram

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SKILL.md

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Ishikawa Diagram

Overview

  • Category: Problem Solving Tool
  • Purpose: "Identify root causes of problems"
  • Created by Japanese professor Kaoru Ishikawa
  • Also known as cause-and-effect or fishbone diagram

How to Use

Steps

  1. Define the Problem

    • Draw a line to the left or right of the problem statement

  2. Identify Contributing Factors

    • List potential categories contributing to the problem
    • Common categories include:
      • People
      • Equipment
      • Methods
      • Measurement
      • Material
      • Environment

  3. Find Possible Root Causes

    • Ask "Why is this happening?"
    • Write ideas under each factor
    • Use techniques like "Five whys" and first principles thinking
    • Capture multiple potential root causes

  4. Analyze the Diagram

    • Review possible root causes
    • Gather additional data/evidence
    • Identify most likely causes
    • Develop solution strategies

Example Scenario

A product manager investigating declining new sign-ups:

  • Factors identified: Landing page, competition, marketing
  • Potential root causes explored under each factor
  • Analysis leads to investigating conversion rates and sign-up flow

Key Takeaway

The Ishikawa diagram provides a structured approach to problem-solving by:

  • Systematically breaking down potential problem sources
  • Encouraging comprehensive analysis
  • Facilitating deeper understanding of complex issues

Sources

  • HarvardX: "How to create cause-and-effect diagrams"
  • American Society for Quality: "Fishbone Diagram"

Source: https://untools.co/ishikawa-diagram/

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