A fishbone diagram example The image below is an example of a fishbone diagram for the problem "Website went down." Two main causes have been identified: "Unable to connect to server" and "DNS lookup problem," with additional contributing problems branching out. A fishbone diagram exampleMAGGIE WILCOX A fishbone diagram example When should you use a fishbone diagram? A team may desire to use a fishbone diagram for a variety of reasons, including: To identify potential reasons of an issue. To assist with the development of a product that addresses concerns with present market offers. To identify bottlenecks or weak points in a business process. To avoid recurring problems and employee burnout. To verify that any corrective actions taken will resolve the problem.