20 Best Free Editable Fishbone Diagram MS Word Templates for 2021

A big part of project management is identifying problems and their causes. A good fishbone diagram template in Word or PPT helps you do just that in a group setting. This deep dive helps you learn from the past and avoid the same issues in the future.

Reassure your clients that they're in good hands and that you're someone who doesn't sweep issues under the rug after a project. You address them head-on, find the causes, and take necessary steps to avoid them in the future. Use a cause and effect diagram template to do this professionally and effortlessly.

Print and distribute a blank fishbone diagram to all attendees of your meeting. This way, they can fill it up on their own during the brainstorm session. Once a final chart is agreed upon, include it in the meeting minutes, case study, action plan, or future project planning documents. 

This article explores the best premium MS Word templates from Envato Elements and top Microsoft Word templates from GraphicRiver. Edit and add a premium diagram from our fishbone diagram PPT collection so you'll have the same chart on your presentation and document handouts. Finally, we'll check out 20 free editable fishbone diagram templates found online.

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Edit and use the best fishbone diagram for PPT templates. Add them to any of these five best Microsoft Word templates below to impress your audience during your next meeting:

1. Case Study Template Vol 1. 

A case study template like this helps you list down all essential details about a past project. Include the best fishbone diagram to analyze the past chain of events that caused a particular outcome. This helps you better plan for future projects.

2. Project Case Study

This is a 20-page professional case study template. There's nothing like ending a past campaign with a thorough analysis. Analyze your past campaign and show your client that you're well prepared for the next one by including a best fishbone diagram.

3. Meeting Minutes - PDF, MS Word, InDesign

Here's a clean and professional meeting minutes template in MS Word. Include a fishbone chart if it was part of the discussion during the last meeting. A meeting minute is a great way to document findings, keep absentees up-to-date, and work through projects professionally.

4. Team Meeting Agenda Template

This is a single-page meeting agenda template. Include all topics that you wish to discuss during a meeting and hand them out to all participants. If the main agenda of the day is to examine the cause and effect of events, be sure to include a diagram here too.

5. Case Study Template

List down all critical takeaways of a project clearly and concisely. Add a fishbone chart to visualize cause and effect. This document becomes a quick reference point when working on similar future projects.

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Let's explore 20 free fishbone diagram templates in Microsoft Word that are available to download by anyone from the internet:

1. Flowchart - Free Editable Fishbone Diagram Template

This is a seven-page document. There are three different Ishikawa diagrams in it.

2. Venn Diagram of Free Blank Fishbone Diagram

This 84-page document comes with a blank fishbone diagram. The main sections to explore are environment, methods, people, and materials as causes. You can map out the effects of these causes or create your causes.

3. Site Map - Free Fishbone Diagram Fillable

This is a blank fishbone diagram only download. It's a PDF file but open it in MS Word to edit. 

4. Network - Free Fishbone Diagram Template Download

This isn't a blank fishbone diagram but is more of an example. It's by a public health institute that worked on a health alert network project. 

5. Affinity - Free Editable Fishbone Diagram Template

This is a simple editable fishbone diagram template. The causes are in green rectangles, and the effect is in a blue triangle. 

6. Simple - Free Fishbone Diagram Fillable

The arrow on this diagram is a lot thicker than other diagrams. It creates a nice design element for a simple diagram like this.

7. Free Fish Bone Diagram Template

List up to 18 causes under six categories that play a part in an effect. This Free Fish Bone Diagram Template comes in PDF but is editable in MS Word.

8. Free Editable Fishbone Diagram Template + Directions

This template comes with directions for facilitators. This direction intends to help a group of people can fill up this diagram together.

9. Blue - Free Fishbone Diagram Template Download

This cause and effect diagram is created with eight causes under three categories. It's simple, clean, and gets the job done. 

10. Excel - Free Fishbone Diagram Fillable

This is a diagram in MS Excel. You can easily edit this diagram in Excel and copy-paste it onto any of your MS Word documents.

11. Gray Fish - Free Fishbone Diagram Template Word

There's an illustration of a fish skeleton. There's a design element on the top and bottom of the page to look like water. 

12. Yellow - Free Fishbone Diagram Template Download

The main part of this diagram is in yellow. The causes are in blue, and the cause categories are in gray.

13. Fun Fish - Free Fishbone Diagram Fillable

There's an illustration of a smiling fish, and it's facing left. (Most of these cause and effect diagrams face right.)

14. Multicolor - Free Editable Fishbone Diagram Template

Each main category in this diagram has a different color; yellow, green, blue, purple, and red. This makes it easier to draw attention to each category.

15. Blue on Black - Free Fishbone Diagram Template Download

This is a blue diagram on a black background. Each category has an icon to represent it. 

16. Free Fishbone Template in Word

Orange and green are the primary colors of this template. The effect goes in an orange circle on the far right. Space to enter causes is minimal, so only single words fit.

17. Freebie Fishbone Diagram

This straightforward diagram works well if you need to do a basic cause and effect analysis in a class with children.

18. Free Root Cause Diagram

You can download this template in a doc or PDF format. Examine what's the root causes of a problem with this diagram.

19. Toolkit - Free Root Cause Analysis Templates 

This document is a 17-page document to walk you through how to get to the root of a problem. There's also a diagram, but it's not editable.

20. Form - Simple Root Causes Analysis

There are three pages in this document. It's a form to list out factors, action plans and even has sample trigger questions.

Here are five quick tips to help you create a professional fishbone diagram: 

1. Use Colors Wisely

If you need to show categories or grouping clearly, use colors. A different color for each group immediately shows separation from the next. It also makes it easier for your audience to focus on a category during the discussion. 

2. Add Text Space

Most fishbone diagrams allow you to only write down one to two words. It's not made for sentences. Allocate some space on the page for people to write more about each cause or general notes.

3. Have It Projected on a Big Screen

Do you need this blank fishbone diagram for a brainstorming session? Start by creating your PPT presentation and include that same fishbone diagram into your MS Word document. This helps ensure all fishbone diagrams are the same.

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  12+ Best Free Fishbone Diagram PowerPoint PPT Templates to Download for 2021
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As you discuss and agree on causes, you can update the slide and everyone can see it immediately. It's a step to ensure everyone is on the same page.

4. Distribute the Confirmed Fishbone Diagram to Everyone

After your brainstorming session, distribute the results of your analysis and final fishbone diagram to all stakeholders. This can be done as part of a case study, meeting minutes, future project plan or even a quick email. Finding the root causes of problems can hopefully help avoid the same problem in the future.

5. What's Next?

It's important to act immediately on matters that need fixing. Accompany your Ishikawa diagram with an action plan document. Either coming up with a plan or being prepared to discuss it right after a root cause analysis shows efficiency on your part. 

Suppose you need a fishbone diagram to be part of a document like a case study, meeting minute, action plan, or project plan. In this case, select and edit a fishbone diagram from Envato's premium PPT collection. Copy and paste the diagram into any best Microsoft Word template from Envato Elements.

Envato Market is perfect if you're looking for a pay-per-download model to get your premium files. Explore GraphicRiver's top MS Word template. Download any that meets your requirements and add a fishbone diagram. 

Get your premium Microsoft Word template and fishbone diagram from Envato Elements or GraphicRiver today! Subscribe and download one now!