Fishbone/Ishikawa
A cause-and-effect analysis tool
Why Fishbone
The Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram is a structured method to explore and analyze the root causes of an undesired effect.
It helps teams brainstorm clearly, categorize ideas, and avoid jumping to conclusions.
Common in RCA, Fishbone is used across industries—from manufacturing and healthcare to IT and engineering.
Use it standalone or pair it with methods like 5 Whys, DMAIC, or PDCA.
It helps teams brainstorm clearly, categorize ideas, and avoid jumping to conclusions.
Common in RCA, Fishbone is used across industries—from manufacturing and healthcare to IT and engineering.
Use it standalone or pair it with methods like 5 Whys, DMAIC, or PDCA.
What's Included
Whether you’re new to RCA or a seasoned facilitator, the Toolbox sets you up for success.
-
A Fishbone App – a Microsoft-certified Power App for structured, collaborative Fishbone analysis
-
Learn the method and how to apply it in just minutes
-
Learn the method and how to apply it in just minutes
About the Fishbone App
Our Microsoft Power App takes your analysis digital—no whiteboards or sticky notes needed.
- Guide live or asynchronous brainstorming
- Categorize and rank causes by impact and frequency
- Attach supporting evidence and documents
- Share dashboards with stakeholders
- Drill down for detailed analysis
- Built for team collaboration—live or remote
Also included in the ANALYZE phase of our full DMAIC Power App.
See the App in Action!
Watch our short demo video to see how the app works in real RCA scenarios.
FAQ
-
Do I need extra licences?
Do I need extra licenses?
Yes,users will need:
- A Microsoft Power Platform license to run the app.
- A Microsoft Power BI license for charts and analyses.
-
Where is my data stored?
On your own Microsoft Power Apps environment—on-prem or cloud—so your data remains under your control.
-
Can teams collaborate live?
Yes, the app supports multi-user, real-time collaboration.
-
What fishbone categories are used?
You can choose:
- Quality template: (Method, Machine, Materials...)
- BPM template: (Input, Output,Guide...)
-
Does it include "5 Whys" or other RCA tools?
Not built-in—but you can link your causes to data or other methods.
For a full RCA workflow, check out our DMAIC APP.
Learn more
Take the Fishbone Micro-Course – Learn the method in 10 minutes
Deepen your RCA knowledge
Download the RCA white paper.
