van Gogh, V.

Once we have finished the brainstorm session and your team’s ideas are written, we may ask, “What’s next?”. Very likely, our brainstorm list is a jumble of ideas. It needs to be organized so that we can use it effectively.
At this point, we can use a second problem-solving method, the cause and effect diagram (C and E diagram). This diagram shows in picture form how one idea from the brainstorm relates to another.
A cause and effect diagram is constructed of head and bones. In the box at the far right is the “effect”, or problem: hindrances in cleaning. Everything to the left of the boxed-in effect is a possible cause of the effect. We emphasize “possible” because at this point, we don’t know for certain the real cause or causes.
These possible causes all came from a brainstorm session. In that session, let’s suppose that we, as a leader, asked our group members to brainstorm possible causes of the hindrances in cleaning. Our group came up with 6 possible causes.
An example of C and E diagram is C & E diagram

In the C and E diagram, we have organized the brainstorm list of causes under several main headings. Under “material”, for example, we listed “carpet shampoo” and “wrong floorwax”. These two terms came from the brainstorm list, and all two describe supplies or material. That’s why we drew them as branches off the main arrow, “material”.
We will see four main arrows: method, equipment, material and employee. All other ideas from the brainstorm fit under one of these main arrows. For example, mops and vacuum cleaners fit under “equipment” and no training fit under “ method”.

There are several reasons for using the cause and effect diagram. First, it organizes the ideas of our brainstorm session and helps to sort them into basic categories. Second, it shows relationships between ideas. Buffers may be a source of hindrance in cleaning. But the reason for the problem with buffers is that an on-off switches don’t work. So the relationship are as follows:

“on-off switch is broken – buffers – equipment – hindrances in cleaning”

Grouping the ideas under main headings also helps to complete the brainstorm. When we and our team look over the C and E diagram, we may see some gaps that need filling. For example, suppose there were no ideas under “environment”. This would suggest that “environment” had been forgotten during the brainstorm session. Finally, the C and E diagram helps us to keep track of where we are in the problem-solving process. It serves as a record of the brainstorm.

The C and E diagram is fairly simple to construct. As we work on it, we will see more relationship between various ideas.

Step 1. Gather the materials.

We will need a big flipchart or large sheets of paper, masking tape, water-based flipchart markers with fairly broad points, and the brainstorm ideas.

Step 2. Call together everyone involved with the problem.

Generally, this group will include the leader and the members of the brainstorm group, but it may also include outsiders such as users of the facility or people from building maintenance. One person may volunteer to act as a recorder and draw the diagram.

Step 3. Begin to construct the diagram.

On the right-hand side of the paper, write down the problem or effect. State it clearly so that everyone understands what will be discussed. Next, draw a box around the problem.

Step 4. Draw the spine of the “fishbone”.

Begin at the left-hand side of the paper and draw an arrow to the box.

Step 5. Add the main causes.

“Equipment”, “method”, “material” and “employee” are the four main headings most often used, but we might decide that others are also appropriate. For instance, as we suggested earlier, we will probably want to add “environment” because many ideas from the brainstorm seem to concern the work environment such as cigarette burns in the tile or wood surfaces, extra furniture in the room, and coffee in the wastebaskets. Other possible main causes might include:

	
	causes outside the process
	customer expectations
	money
	management
	government regulations

Step 6. Add the brainstorm ideas.

At this point, begin sorting through our brainstorm ideas to group them logically under the appropriate headings. These ideas may be subdivided further.

THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THE CAUSE AND EFFECT DIAGRAM

The ideas for the cause and effect diagram can come from a previous brainstorm session, or we can suggest the ideas as we build the diagram. If we suggest the ideas as we go along, the process of constructing the C and E diagram is like brainstorming. We need a leader to guide the session and someone to serve as a recorder. The recorder works directly on the C and E diagram. The basic rules of brainstorming apply here, too. Make contributions in turn, pass when we don’t have an idea, and refrain from criticism.
As in brainstorming, working out the diagram requires effort and guidance from the leader. There are many decisions to make about which ideas go where. The leader may need to ask, “When does this happen?”,”Why does this take place?”. At the same time, the emphasis must always be on how to solve the problem, not on who’s to blame.
There are two ways to fill in the ideas under the causes. The team can brainstorm in a freewheeling manner and cover all the headings at once, or work through each cause in turn. If one area does not receive much attention, the team can concentrate on it for a few minutes.
What do we do when an idea seems to fit under more than one heading? Include it under every heading it seems to fit.

Brainstorming
Pareto Analysis
Flowcharts
Storyboarding
Scatter Diagrams

© 1997 say_kian@hotmail.com

1995 Corvette ZR-1 - Last ZR-1

review questionnaire

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page