A cause and effect diagram, often called a “fishbone” diagram, can help in brainstorming to identify possible
causes of a problem and in sorting ideas into useful categories. A fishbone diagram is a visual way to look at
cause and effect. It is a more structured approach than some other tools available for brainstorming causes
of a problem (e.g., the Five Whys tool). The problem or effect is displayed at the head or mouth of the fish.