Ishikawa diagram

Ishikawa diagram can be applied in clinical fields and mental/ behavioural health proactively. It provides a structured and systematic approach to identify and collate potential causes for an effect. The processes in gathering and organizing the potential causes may include identifying the barriers, facilitators and incentives for a behaviour, reviewing literatures, analysing flow charts, conducting failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), surveying, interviewing, brain storming, conducting focus group discussion, and applying problem driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach. It can also be applied creatively to interlink a series of timeline events. With skill and experience, a practitioner can apply Ishikawa diagram in a three dimensional way in which the third dimension is the intertwining of the various potential causes criss-crossing each other. The success in establishing and implementing an Ishikawa diagram entails amalgamation of skills in science and art.