Using an Ishikawa Diagram to Jump-Start Strategy

The Ishikawa Diagram – also known as a “fishbone” or “root cause” diagram – can jump start your strategic planning with wonderful results.  Named after Kaoru Ishikawa, one of the early pioneers of Total Quality Management in the 60’s, it forces you to:

• Identify the drivers in your business ecosystem.  In the service industry these are often the 4 S’s: Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems, Skills.  If you are in manufacturing, you can start with the 6 M’s: Machine, Method, Materials, Maintenance, Man and Mother Nature
• Take a holistic approach. When you look for the relationships between different areas of your business you can’t help but form a big picture view.
• Think in a structured manner about ideas that were previously hard to pin down.

Sample Diagrams

Resources

• If you love Microsoft Excel, you might want to take a look at BPI Consulting’s SPC for Excel” will jump start your planning process.
• If you’re in more of a brainstorming mood, check out Mindjet’s Mindmanager 7, which runs on both PC’s and Macs.

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