Lean from the Trenches

How to Use Cause-Effect Diagrams

Here’s the basic process:

1. Select a problem—anything that’s bothering you—and write it down.

2. Trace “upward” to figure out the business consequences, the “visible damage” that your problem is causing.

3. Trace “downward” to find the root cause (or causes).

4. Identify and highlight vicious cycles (circular paths).

5. Iterate these steps a few times to refine and clarify your diagram.

6. Decide which root causes to address and how (that is, which countermeasures to implement).

Later, follow up. If your countermeasures worked, congratulations! If your countermeasures didn’t work, don’t despair. Analyze why they didn’t work, update your diagram based on the new knowledge gained, and try some other countermeasures.

A countermeasure ...