An **[[Ishikawa Diagram]]** is a quality management tool intended to trace and ideate the causality of a specific event (typically a fault). ^about Also referred to as *Fishbone* or *Cause and Effect* diagrams, they are a simple diagram with: - the **event** as the 'head and backbone' of the fish, drawn horizontally across the page - then general **major causes** or categories branching off the backbone as the ribs - then specific **root causes** splintering off these ribs Some commonly-used Ishikawa diagram templates include: - **The 4 P's (Business)** - People, Policies, Procedures, Place - **The 6 M's (Manufacturing/Industrial; also anywhere from 5 to 8 M's)** - Method, Machine, Material, Manpower, Measurement, Mother Nature - **The 4 Ss (Services)** - Systems, Skills, Suppliers, Surroundings - **Education Ishikawa** - Student, Teacher, Curriculum, Environment, Resources, Assessment