Cause-and-effect diagrams

Carefully developed cause-and-effect diagrams are often the product of a group effort by persons especially knowledgeable about the diagram’s subject matter. The diagram identifies a problem that an organization or program is facing and the major and minor factors thought to contribute to that problem. Its development is often an iterative process with multiple refinements as the work proceeds. The cause-and-effect diagram’s purpose is to provide clarity that can guide the formation of strategies to remedy or reduce the problem.