What diagram is also known as the "cause and effect diagram"?

The fishbone diagram is commonly referred to as a "cause and effect diagram" because it visually represents the various causes of a specific effect or problem. This diagram is organized in a way that resembles the skeletal structure of a fish, where the spine represents the main effect or problem, and the bones branching off represent the different categories of causes related to that effect.

Using a fishbone diagram helps teams systematically examine all potential contributing factors to a problem, which can lead to a deeper understanding and identification of the root causes. This method is particularly useful in quality control and project management, as it facilitates collaborative brainstorming and encourages comprehensive analysis of issues that need resolution.

In contrast, control charts are used for monitoring process stability, histograms display the distribution of data, and Gantt charts are used for project scheduling and tracking progress, making them unsuitable for representing cause-and-effect relationships in the same manner as the fishbone diagram.