Which quality management diagram is used for brainstorming and identifying root causes by visualizing causes and effects, with the problem at the head of the diagram?

• A. Ishikawa Diagram (Fishbone)
• B. Pareto Chart
• C. Run Chart
• D. Scatter Diagram

Answer: (A)

A cause-and-effect diagram, often called a fishbone diagram, is used for brainstorming and identifying root causes by visually organizing how different factors contribute to a problem. The problem sits at the head of the diagram, and the main bones represent broad categories of potential causes, such as people, processes, equipment, materials, environment, and management. Teams expand each branch with more specific factors, creating a structured map of possible root causes. This layout makes it easier to brainstorm, see relationships, and decide where to investigate or collect data first.

Pareto charts focus on ranking problems by frequency or impact, run charts track performance over time, and scatter diagrams show relationships between two variables—each useful, but not the cause-and-effect, brainstorming tool described here.