What are the disadvantages of the fishbone diagram?

A significant drawback of the fishbone diagram, also referred to as the Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram, is its potential to oversimplify intricate issues. Users might overlook various contributing factors, resulting in an incomplete analysis. Moreover, the process can be quite time-consuming, necessitating collaboration with diverse teams to pinpoint possible causes of a problem.

This may impede timely decision-making. Additionally, the subjective aspect of categorising problems could lead to bias, whereby false causes are prioritised over more critical ones if not examined thoroughly. Finally, skilled facilitation is essential for effective outcomes, which can be a challenge for less experienced teams.