An Ishikawa diagram, also known as a fishbone diagram, is a tool used to identify and organize

potential causes of a problem12. It’s often used by teams to graphically display the relationship of

the causes to the effect and to each other2. However, creating and interpreting an Ishikawa diagram

can be challenging if the team does not have a clear focus or agreement3.

In this case, the most likely cause for the challenge in completing an Ishikawa diagram is that the

charter did not provide a specific problem statement4. A clear and specific problem statement is

crucial as it provides the team with a clear understanding of what they are trying to solve4. Without

it, the team may struggle to identify and agree on the potential causes of the problem4.

Therefore, to overcome this challenge, the team should revisit the charter and work together to

define a specific problem statement. This will provide them with a clear focus and help them come to

an agreement on the potential causes of the problem, thereby facilitating the completion of the

Ishikawa diagram4.