Use cause and effect analysis to solve your problems.

This page explains how to do a cause and effect analysis, one of six problem solving exercises. This one of the problem solving steps also shows an example cause and effect outline.

An example looks like this:

Select the problem to analyse (i.e. the effect)

* define the problem clearly - this may involve collecting data and re-definitions using BRAINSTORMING and / or the 5 WHYs or other problem solving exercises.

* write the problem title in a box on the right side of a large page (e.g. flip chart sheet) and draw an arrow pointing towards it across the page (this can be done vertically if you prefer, as in the example above)

Agree all the major categories of causes

* draw main branch lines from the central arrow, which points to the effect, as many as categories needed, draw a box at the end of each line and put the category titles in the boxes.

Because of the shape that is now emerging, sometimes this cause and effect outline is called a fish bone diagram.

In the example above, there are four main categories:

~ originator of paper or article

~ team member initially receiving paper or article

~ the system, and

~ team members circulated.

For many problems, classic categories that are used include:

* people

* materials

* machines

* systems

* environment

Generate possible causes

* brainstorm for possible causes (e.g. in how many ways might this problem - effect - have been caused?)

* allocate the causes generated to major categories adding lines to the branch lines as needed

* stand back and examine the "picture" that emerges and highlight the most likely causes of the effect (problem) as you see it

* examine the most likely causes using the 5 WHYs problem solving technique

Check the logic of the diagram in both directions

That is, your cause and effect analysis will result in decision making about solutions but will be misleading if it isn't valid.

So, check - e.g. we've written down a chain of cause and effect between each possible cause and the major categories etc.

Start with a cause and check if it will have the effect the diagram suggests. Then start with the effect and work backwards to the causes listed.

Verify the most likely causes and identify possible solutions

This may involve:

* experiments

* models

* additional data


Take the most likely verified causes, identified from the above, and critically examine them for possible solutions.

This may involve using:

* brainstorming (e.g. in how many ways might this problem - effect - be solved?)

* CRITICAL EXAMINATION

A Cause and Effect analysis is a valuable problem solving technique
that leads to learning, decision making and change.
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