Method 6 Ishikawa diagram

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Main idea and its purpose

The Ishikawa chart was developed by Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s to measure quality control processes in the shipbuilding industry.
Ishikawa diagrams are sometimes called fisheye diagrams, herringbone diagrams, cause and effect diagrams, or Fishikawa. They are causal diagrams created by Kaoru Ishikawa to show the causes of a particular event. They resemble the skeleton of a fish, and the "ribs" representing the causes of the event and the final outcome appear at the end of the skeleton. The purpose of the Ishikawa diagram is to identify the problems that must be solved in order to obtain or avoid a particular event.
A fishbone diagram is a visualization tool for identifying the root causes of a problem.
Fishbone (Ishikawa) or cause and effect diagram – is used to find the causes of problems and group them into certain categories. That is why it is also called cause and effect diagram. Its creation begins with the identification of the goal or desired outcome or problem and the factors related to it. The causes are then analyzed for each factor. The image of the diagram somewhat resembles a fish asaka, which is why this method got the name fishbone.

Application guidance: scope of application, for example, when working with a group of a certain age and composition; in individual work, etc.

An Ishikawa diagram has several uses and can visualize potential causes of problems in many different circumstances. These diagrams are helpful for product developers when new items are being created.This also helps teams identify which resources will be needed at specific times to identify issues before they occur.
The fishbone technique is used to visually identify possible causes of a problem. This technique discourages partial or premature solutions and reveals the relative importance and interaction of different problem components. Steps:
1. On the board or large sheet of paper, draw a long, horizontal arrow across the entire platform, pointing to the right. On it, write the problem that will be the backbone of this "fish".
2. Draw the appendages of the bone (at a 45-degree angle to the 'spine'), where each appendage is a potential cause of the problem that can potentially be discussed. It is also possible to update sub-problems by displaying them as additions.
3. The group discusses each cause of the problem, starting with the simplest. This allows for clarity and many times explanations of the causes of the simplest problems make the complex causes irrelevant. Ideally, the fish's gills are redrawn and closer to the "head" are the most important problems.
Ishikawa charts are intuitive and easy to understand. By dividing the causes of the problem into different segments, the root cause can be better identified and eliminated. The method also has a flexible structure where the various "ribs" can be changed, removed or replaced as needed to suit a particular situation.
However, its simplicity can also be its greatest weakness, as it does not always reveal the size or importance of a problem, making it difficult to prioritize action. This means that small problems may receive more attention than they need, but large ones may receive too little attention. Since much of the input and interpretation of the chart is subjective, it can also lead to disagreements between participants who view the chart from different perspectives.

The results of applying the method, for example, increasing the ability to go beyond standard solutions, etc.

Ishikawa charts also help more accurate products when troubleshooting processes. If a problem occurs and management cannot find the cause, they can use Ishikawa diagrams to break the problem down into smaller parts until the root problem is found and solved.
Ishikawa charts are more useful when there is a known problem that the company can identify. The company must also be able to observe the problem, as this information will eventually feed into the chart. A diagram can be used to represent a management hypothesis about what happened and explain how the problem can be solved.
It is also possible to make the diagram in a positive form, that is, choosing not the problem as the central element, but the goal to be achieved and analyzing the aspects related to its achievement.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.
3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.
7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.

Instructions for combining creativity methods

1. Determine the goal
Determine why you want to use creative methods in your work and for whom, that is, what is the purpose, goals, meanings, audience, for whom it is happening.
2. Read
Read the description of the methods and recommendations for their use.

5. Сombine methods
Find and add polar aspects. You can combine methods that are more structural with playful ones based on the principle of combining polarities. This can make the process emotional but also structured at the same time. Yes, you can first choose the method that, in your opinion, is most suitable for your problem and task, then immediately determine the one that you would rather not use, which highlights the opposite sides. Moreover, your determined polarity can be conditional, that is, you yourself can determine what is polar in your case, what is the opposite. ● For example, if in one method there is a lot about the connections between elements, their detailed description, diving into the essence of details, then choosing a method that will consider the system of the problem from above, the whole whole, the system as a separate element in the environment around it, this will add scaling in finding a solution.
6. Application time
Different methods require different periods of time when applied. When combining methods, it is better to take this into account by adding a simpler and time-limited method to a method that is time-consuming and more difficult to use.

3. Choose
Choose those that best suit your purpose and tasks. When choosing methods, pay attention to the fact that they can be conditionally divided into several groups:● procedural, those that help answer the question HOW TO DO IT? How to optimize the process? How to do the process differently?● horizontal, those that answer the question WHO? WITH WHO? FOR WHOM? This is about the distribution of responsibility, and about clarifying the interests, association or for whom we are doing it.● vertical, those related to WHY? WHAT IS A PURPOSE? WHAT IS THE MAIN? It is about clarifying the hierarchy in the structure, the essence of the problem and its solution, what it consists of and what one wants to achieve.
4. Make it specific
Add the missing aspect to the vector. Depending on the task, one of the vectors will be the main one, and the other 2 will be auxiliary.● For example, you need to start the learning process in a different, new way: you choose the most suitable methods for your task and audience, and add methods for vertical and horizontal questions. This will add specificity towards the goal of this process and the distribution of tasks for everyone in the process, will help determine who and what it will be useful for. This creates a habit of thinking in different directions and structuring the process.● For example, the "Blooming Lotus" method allows you to determine the vertical vector, disassemble the problem into components, detail it by seeing the entire system of the problem at the same time, show the connections between different elements and find a solution for each element separately. If we add a horizontal and procedural layer of questions from the SCAMPER method, adding and concentrating on what is still missing, what can be added, what aspect has not yet been revealed, then we will get an even more complete picture and a solution that will cover the maximum fields of the same problem.

7. Calibrate the original purpose
During the whole process, calibrate from time to time with the original purpose, goals, meaning for what it all happens and for whom, because in the exciting creative space it can be easy to lose the axis on which the whole process should rest.
8. Experiment
Having created a combination of methods, it is important to experiment and be ready for changes and adaptation of the newly created to the needs, goals and tasks even more, because during the approbation we can just see the fact that was not taken into account. Here we can go back to points 4 and 5, adding aspects that are missing.● Note: try to feel the process, be present in it as much as possible, and allow imperfection and something spontaneous to arise, because the marker of novelty is your surprise, expansion of space and emergence of unexpected details, solutions, ideas.