What does a Cause and Effect Diagram (Fishbone) display?

A Cause and Effect Diagram, commonly known as a Fishbone Diagram due to its shape, is primarily utilized to identify and organize potential causes of a particular problem or effect. This diagram allows teams to systematically explore and classify the various factors that may be contributing to the issue at hand. By visualizing these relationships, teams can more effectively brainstorm and prioritize potential root causes that need to be investigated further.

The structure of the Fishbone Diagram facilitates a comprehensive view of all possible influences—such as people, processes, materials, methods, environment, and equipment—that could lead to the problem. This systematic approach helps ensure that no potential cause is overlooked when analyzing factors related to the issue. By sorting these causes into categories, teams can simplify the complexity of problem-solving and focus their efforts on the most likely contributing factors.

In contrast, while the other options mention aspects of process visualization and mapping, they don't accurately capture the primary function of a Cause and Effect Diagram, which is centered on identifying and organizing potential causes of a specific problem.