The Project Management Tool Kit: 100 Tips and Techniques for Getting the Job Done Right

CONTROL PROCESS7Cause-and-Effect Analysis

What:	Determining the sources of a problem situation.
When:	Throughout a project.
Results:	Identified root causes for current or potential project trouble.

Identify Sources of Trouble

Cause-and-effect analysis is applied in a wide range of situations, such as:

• Issue management

• Schedule control

• Cost control

• Scope change control

• Risk response planning

• Process improvement

• Creative problem-solving

• Failure diagnosis

There are many names for essentially similar processes, including root cause analysis; failure mode and effect analysis; “fishbone diagrams”; and Ishikawa diagrams, named for Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa, the Japanese quality-movement expert who popularized the concepts.

Describe ...