Iowa Support System for Schools and Districts in Need of Assistance
Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
Source: Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program (adapted)
See Also: The Handbook for SMART School Teams, pp 136-137
What Is It?
The Fishbone – Cause and Effect Diagram is a visual of the critical elements that may
contribute to the problem, or effect, the building/district is experiencing. It is based upon the
work in 1943 of Professor Kaoru Ishikawa of Tokyo.
It is used to identify the effect, or specific problem, and then the possible causes of that
effect. The visual allows you to organize a lot of information and zero in on specific causes.
It is extremely helpful in finding “root causes” to problems.
How Do You Use It?
1. Identify the effect, or problem, as it is presently perceived and as accurately as
possible. (Do you want the pipe fixed? or Do you want water in the pool?) Place
that information in the “eye” of the fishbone, marked “Effect.”
2. Brainstorm/Review the evidence for possible causes; these could come from the
critical elements of the three domains – Academic, Quality Educator, Building/
District System. They may come from other sources as well.
 Academic
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Standards
Curriculum
Instruction
Assessment
Quality Educator

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Professional Development
Leadership and Supervision
Internal Communication
Climate and Culture
Building/District System

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External Environment
Stakeholders (Family and Community)
Resource Allocation
Technology
Accountability

3. Brainstorm/Review the evidence that suggests reasons/causes for each of these
causes. For example, if you have determined that curriculum may be a cause for this
problem, then determine reasons for this cause. Your evidence may indicate a
misalignment between the curriculum and the assessments, or even a misalignment of
what the educators teach in the classroom compared to the curriculum and the
standards. (“The 5 Why” approach can help you “dig deeper” into each of the
possible causes you have identified.) You will want to note each of those reasons, or
“cause of the causes” below the appropriate cause. Add “bones” to the fish or use
bullets under each cause. You can even prioritize these if you desire.
Diagnosis Phase: Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
©2009
Diagnosis - 207
Iowa Support System for Schools in Need of Assistance
Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
Source: Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program (adapted)
Effect
Diagnosis Phase: Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
©2009
Diagnosis - 208
Iowa Support System for Schools in Need of Assistance
Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
Source: Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program (adapted)
Instruction
Professional Development
 30 minutes of instruction
 Acquisition to proficiency
too soon
 Not implementing
 No follow-up
 No effective research
Curriculum
 Misalignment – CIA and
Standards
Effect
8th Grade Math Scores
Learners
 Limited prerequisite skills
 No provisions for ELL
Learning Environment
 Many interruptions
 Not enough books
Diagnosis Phase: Fishbone – The Cause and Effect Diagram
Parent Engagement
 Not aware of importance of
math
 No connection to learning
©2009
Diagnosis - 209