About the Tool

Purpose:  Productivity Management

The problem tree diagram is a planning tool that helps identify the root causes of a problem. It creates a tree-shaped diagram that provides a logical hierarchy of their relationships. By breaking broad categories into more specific details, it moves concepts from generalities to specifics.

A problem tree analysis aids decision-making, identifies the root causes of defects, and facilitates idea generation and risk assessment by visualizing risk factors, probabilities, and potential impacts. This approach allows organizations to have a better understanding of the problem, offering various angles for intervention.

How to Use the Tool

Estimated Time Needed:  1 hour

Target Participants or Users: Change Managers, Project Managers, Planning Officers, Process Planners

Steps

  1. Define the problem statement.
  2. Write the problem statement in a square or circle at the top (for a vertical tree diagram) or far left (for a horizontal tree diagram).
  3. Identify immediate causes contributing to the central problem.
  4. Organize the diagram from broad to specific details.
  5. Create new tiers of statements and use arrows to indicate how each statement relates to the ideas in the previous tiers. This helps illustrate the connections between statements.
  6. Ask the “Why” questions to drill down to the next level of detail. Identify deeper causes, breaking them down into more detailed sub-branches.
  7. Continue until all the details for the outcomes are exhaustively mapped out

Sample Tree Diagram