As a root cause analysis tool, what is the primary disadvantage to the fishbone (also known as the cause-and-effect) graphical approach to root cause analysis?
• Fishbone (cause-and-effect) diagram purpose – how it is normally used in safety/incident investigations • Difference between listing causes and showing sequences or chains of events • How fishbone diagrams handle multiple causes and categories
• Think about what a fishbone diagram actually looks like: what information is on the “bones,” and what is shown (or not shown) between those causes? • Ask yourself: does this tool usually help you brainstorm many possible causes, or does it limit you to just one cause or one category? • Consider whether the tool is strong at generating ideas, organizing them, or showing the time/order relationship between events.
• Be clear on whether a fishbone diagram groups causes into categories like Man/Material/Method/Machine/Environment/Management. • Confirm whether a fishbone diagram allows you to list multiple possible causes on different “bones.” • Focus on which option describes something a fishbone diagram is typically weak at, not something it is well-known to do well.
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