Only by tackling the root causes of a problem can we make sustainable change. A fish-bone diagram, also known as a cause and effect or Ishikawa diagram, is a mind mapping tool that helps you to explore the potential underlying causes of a problem to understand it more clearly.

Completing a fish-bone as a team exercise helps engage the team and build a common understanding around the issue, ensuring different perspectives are heard.

How to complete a Fishbone Diagram

• Gather a team of people closest to the problem - try to include a range of different perspectives
• Download our Editable Fishbone template, use post-it notes, or an online whiteboard 
• Identify your problem in the 'fish head', then breaking this down into the main factors that may cause it
• Then analyse each of these further to brainstorm all possible factors that may effect each one - you can add as many 'fishbones' as you need!
• Add as many branches as you need to break down causes into more detail
• Analyse your diagram - do any of the causes need further investigation? For example, do you need to interview service users or review data trends?
• Use the causes to inform your change strategy (aim, driver diagram and change ideas)

Check out these other tools to help you understand your problem:

• The five whys
• Mind mapping
• Observation
• Process mapping 
• Measurement for improvement