When analyzing problems, many people may feel headache because they don't know where to start. For example, "Where on earth should I start thinking?", "Are there any overlooked factors?" and so on. Perhaps everyone will encounter these problems. At this time, Fishbone Diagram can come in handy.

This time, we will explain in an easy-to-understand way the basic concepts and structure of the fishbone diagram and provide free fishbone diagram templates that can be used immediately. In addition, we will also introduce the convenient one-click chart-making tool PicDoc. Come and experience the quick creation of fishbone diagrams!

What is a fishbone diagram?

A fishbone diagram is a structured chart used to visualize the causes of problems. The diagram gets its name “fishbone diagram” because the completed graphic resembles a fishbone in appearance.

A fishbone diagram is basically composed of the following three elements.

• Characteristic (Effect): The problem or result that is currently occurring
• Major cause (Category): The major categories of causes that have an impact on the problem
• Medium/small cause (Cause): The specific elements actually related to the problem within the major categories

When creating a fishbone diagram, first write “Characteristic (Problem to be solved)” in the fish head part. Then extend the major bones of the “major cause” from the fish head, and further extend the medium and small bones of the “medium/small cause” from the major bones for organization. These are the general steps for creating a fishbone diagram.

However, some people may find it 'troublesome to hand-draw or use software to create from scratch' or 'worry about missing important information'. In such cases, Free Fishbone Diagram Templates come in very handy. With a template, there's no need to draw the graph. You just need to enter the text in sequence to easily complete the creation. Some websites even have AI capabilities. You just need to paste the written text material as it is, and then you can quickly adapt to the fishbone diagram template with one click and automatically layout and fill in the text.

Next, let's introduce three websites that provide free editable fishbone diagram templates.

Three Websites Offering Free Fishbone Diagram Templates

1. EdrawMax

As a well-known online drawing tool, EdrawMax provides a variety of beautifully designed templates. Among them are fishbone diagram templates, which can be downloaded and used for free.

The usage method is very simple. Just select your favorite template, enter text or pictures, and you can create a high-quality fishbone diagram. The operation is simple. Just drag the graphics and enter text. Even those who are not good at making charts or beginners can use it with confidence. In addition, the created charts can be easily converted into formats such as Word, PDF, and PowerPoint, which is convenient for data production and sharing.

For users who are making fishbone diagrams for the first time or who want to present an aesthetic effect, EdrawMax is undoubtedly a reliable tool.

2. Smartsheet

Next, let's introduce the online business management platform, Smartsheet. Its feature lies in the ability to intuitively organize work processes and project progress, and it is often used to improve the overall work efficiency of the team.

This platform also provides fishbone diagram templates. After selecting a template, you can directly create it in Smartsheet. In addition, on the "Content" page of its official website, there are blog articles that provide fishbone diagram templates in Excel and PowerPoint formats for free. After downloading, you can directly insert them into Office software for use, which is also a convenient feature.

The created fishbone diagrams can be easily shared and support simultaneous viewing and editing by multiple people. You can also set individual editing permissions, making it an ideal tool for team collaboration.

3.ClickUp

ClickUp is an online task management tool with a built-in chart creation function. Its fishbone diagram templates also support team collaboration and flexible editing, which is a major feature.

The free fishbone diagram templates provided by ClickUp have a clear structure and are convenient for organizing information. In addition, this tool can be integrated with other applications or tools, and the ability to naturally integrate the created charts into the work process is also its charm. The operation interface is intuitive and easy to use. Even without professional knowledge, you can quickly master it, and it is very convenient for users without a technical background.

By decomposing and visualizing complex problems by category, ClickUp's fishbone diagram templates can prevent analysis omissions and support more comprehensive and efficient problem-solving. When conducting cause analysis in a business scenario, it will also become a powerful auxiliary tool.

However, some people may think: "Although templates are very convenient, I want to create fishbone diagrams faster and more efficiently!" "I want more beautiful and designer fishbone diagram templates!" For users who pursue ultimate speed and visual aesthetics, we recommend using the AI chart auto-generation tool PicDoc.

Don't want to input text boxes one by one? PicDoc can generate them instantly through AI!

PicDoc is a tool that A tool that automatically generates visual charts such as fishbone diagrams from text. This AI-driven visual generation tool can greatly reduce the tedious steps of finding templates and entering text labels one by one.

PicDoc has the following features:

• Simply copy and paste text to generate charts

Directly copy and paste the text describing the problem and reasons onto the editing page, and the AI will analyze the structure of the problem and factors and visualize it.

• AI writing assistance to facilitate brainstorming

If you can't think of factors for a moment, you can enter keywords. The AI will conduct a brainstorming session and generate text.

• Multiple templates to choose from at will

PicDoc provides a variety of fishbone diagram templates. The generated charts can be selected from a variety of template types and styles, and the appearance can also be customized freely.

• Colors, fonts, and structures are all editable.

After selecting a style, you can customize the color of each graphic, the text font, the number and order of factor items, etc. to meet your personal preferences.

• Rich chart output formats

The completed fishbone diagram can be exported in PNG, JPG, PDF, or PPT formats. Whether it's for school reports or business materials, it can be seamlessly incorporated and used. In addition, you can also export the entire document containing text and the fishbone diagram as a PDF or PNG, or share a link for viewing, sharing your ideas in one step.

• Free diagramming, no copyright worries!

The basic functions of PicDoc are completely free. You can create an unlimited number of fishbone diagrams without spending a dime. The charts created by PicDoc can be used for both personal and commercial purposes, so you can feel at ease to apply them widely.

For those who hope to "quickly create beautiful fishbone diagrams" or "get brainstorming support during the organization process", PicDoc is highly recommended!

Conclusion

As the first step in problem-solving, the fishbone diagram is a very effective method. By using free fishbone diagram templates, you can smoothly organize various factors at a low cost and liven up discussions.

In addition, by using a tool like PicDoc, you can also use AI to automatically generate fishbone diagrams, this saves time and enables you to quickly complete reports or presentation materials that are easy to understand. Try to make the best use of the fishbone diagram in the most suitable way according to your purpose!

With PicDoc, you can complete a fishbone diagram in one second! Click here to experience PicDoc for free