One of the critical factors in successful process improvement is to understand just what is causing the problem your organization faces. This how to guide looks at two tools to help you determine what is the cause of the problems - The 5 Whys and the Ishikawa Fishbone Diagram

1. Why are we doing this?
A TLS Continuum Guide to
Process Improvement

2. Why are doing this?
We know we have to know what is going on
We know we need to get to the root cause
We know the organization requires certain steps
But why are we taking these steps?

3. 5 Whys in Action: Tools
The head represents the problem
The bones represent the major influences on the process
Each arm has sub arms which respond to the question
why

4. 5 Whys in Action: Tools
Bones represent
Management
Method
People
Metrics
Environment (Natural and man-made)
Technology

5. Management People Process
Metrics Technology Material
Six Sigma Methodology- Define Stage Ishikawa Diagram
Each arm has sub arms
which respond to the
question why
© 2015 Daniel Bloom & Associates, Inc

6. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why are we having an extended time to
hire?
Response: We have an extended time to hire
because management is slow to respond to request
for candidate feedback

7. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why is management slow to respond to
requests for candidate feedback
Response: Management is slow to respond because
there is too much on the manager’s desk

8. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why are we having an extended time to
hire?
Response: We are having an extended time to hire
because the talent management system is too
complex

9. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why is the talent management system
too complex?
Response: The process is slow to respond because
there is too much redundancy in the system

10. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why are we having an extended time to
hire?
Response: We have an extended time to hire
because people are slow to meet the timeline
deadlines

11. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Management
We are experiencing this problem because
management ________________________
Question : Why are people slow to respond to the
timeline deadlines?
Response: People are slow to respond to deadlines
because of miscommunication

12. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Metrics
We are experiencing this problem because
metrics________________________
Ask why the metrics is the problem
Question : Why are we having an extended time to
hire?
Response: We are having an extended time to hire
because we are not using the right metrics to
review time to hire

13. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Metrics
We are experiencing this problem because
metrics________________________
Question: Why are we using the wrong metrics?
Response : We are using the wrong metrics
because we don’t know what we are supposed to
be measuring
Question: Why don’t we know what we are
supposed to be measuring?

14. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Environment
We are experiencing this problem because the
workplace________________________
Question: Why are we having an extended time to
hire?
Response : We are having an extended time to hire
because the work environment is not designed for
efficiency

15. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Environment
We are experiencing this problem because the
workplace________________________
Question: Why are we not designed for efficiency?
Response : The environment is slow to respond
because there are too many silos in place

16. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Technology
We are experiencing this problem because the
technology________________________
Question: Why do we have an extend time to hire?
Response : We are having an extended time to hire
because the application tracking software is not
functioning the way it is supposed to do

17. 6 arms of the Fishbone - Technology
We are experiencing this problem because the
technology________________________
Question: Why is the application tracking software
not functioning?
Response : The applicant tracking system is slow
to respond because the software is not up to date

18. Why are doing this?
Ishikawa Fishbone diagram provides us with an
overview of what is wrong with the system
We begin with the problem
Then we look carefully as to what might be causing
the problem at the high level of the 5 Why’s
Then we look carefully why these causes are
existing in our organization
Represents the preliminary step towards identifying
potential solutions to the problem

19. MORE INFORMATION?
Daniel Bloom
SPHR, Six Sigma Black Belt
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Bloom &Associates, Inc.
PO Box 1233
Largo, FL 33779
(727) 581-6216
dan@dbaiconsulting.com
http://www.dbaiconsulting.com