Cause and Effect Charting

Before

Pre-Work Required:

Define the issue being dealt with.

Prepare the flipchart paper by drawing a line down the middle and label the left hand column "cause "and the right hand column "effect"

During

1. Clarify differences between "cause" and "effect".

2. Brainstorm causes and effects in two separate columns.

3. Probe each item in the "effect" column to determine what causes it and write the cause in the right-hand column.

4. Continue until all causes are identified.

After

Follow-Up Required: begin looking for solutions

Potential pitfalls: Participants need to have a deep understanding of the situation and the issues they are working on.

Online Tips: Place participants in groups in breakout rooms for a specified time and then allow groups to share with the whole class. Alternately participants can be in a whole group discussion and annotate their suggestions on the virtual whiteboard/mural.