10 Techniques for Data Quality Root-Cause Analysis — Data Quality Pro
8. Learn how to construct a fishbone or ishikawa diagram
Fishbone diagrams or ishikawa diagrams are one of the most essential tools to be used during the root-cause analysis process and are typically deployed in a brainstorming workshop.
Here are some of the key benefits of a fishbone diagram:
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They help teams push beyond the perceived symptoms to uncover potential root-causes.
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They provide a much needed structure to any brainstorming activity
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Ensure that major causes are not ignored by allowing full participation of the personnel involved
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Focuses on the human and environmental side as well as the more technical which often starts out as the prime candidate for investigation
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They are extremely useful for implementing cause prevention even when no issues exist, not just cause analysis
Mind-mapping tools have emerged as one of the most effective and simplest tools to use when creating your fishbone diagram. There are now online versions which facilitate remote workshopping plus there are also free products available, just search on google.
To construct your fishbone diagram you must first start with the head which requires you to clearly define the problem.
Don’t make this too expansive or open-ended, clarity is the key so that the brainstorming remains focused.
Next populate the chart with some common categories but don’t be afraid to add your own as the brainstorming process throws out new ideas.
Here are some common category ideas:
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Manpower (basically people issues)
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Measurements
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Machines (think applications, systems etc.)
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Materials (documentation, training guides etc.)
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Methods (eg. business processes, standard activities, sequences of events etc.)
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Mother nature (eg. environmental issues)
Gathering causes. There are two ways to gather ideas for causes. Firstly, go through each category and ask the workshop attendees to brainstorm causes that can be attributed to that category.
Secondly, ask each attendee to brainstorm their own ideas separately, this can even be done anonymously if there is some sensitivity with the exercise.
Tip: Post-it’s are a useful tool for this or have your mind mapping software online during the exercise.
Once you have exhausted all possible root-causes then review the chart to eliminate the causes that don’t apply.
Next, investigate the causes you plan to investigate further and create a plan for confirming that the causes are indeed the root-causes of the issue.
Tip: Pull back from implementing or recommending fixes until we have gathered more data and performed validation.
And here are two additional bonus techniques…
