A fishbone diagram represents various causes that lead to a specific effect. It is also known as a cause-effect diagram or Ishikawa diagram
It is possible to create a fishbone diagram in Microsoft PowerPoint using various shapes. Unfortunately, there is no built-in template in PowerPoint to generate fishbone diagrams.
We will show you in simple, step-by-step instructions, how to create a fishbone diagram.
Let us begin.
Step #1: Open a PowerPoint presentation
Open a new PowerPoint presentation or an existing one.
Navigate to a blank slide.
Step #2: Assign a title to the fishbone slide
Click on ‘Click to add title’ to type in your own title.
Click on ‘Click to add subtitle’ and change it as well.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to move and position the title and subtitle suitably.
Step #3: Open the Shapes Menu
Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar to change the ribbon.
In the section Illustrations, click on the Shapes icon.
This opens the Shapes menu.
Step #4: Insert a shape for the backbone
In the Block Arrows section, click on the Chevron icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
Note: You can also use any other suitable shape.
This will form the backbone of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the arrow, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably on your page, and drag it to form a long backbone.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #5: Insert a shape for the head
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
Click on the Partial Circle icon under Basic Shapes.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
Note: You can also use any other suitable shape.
This will form the head of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the icon, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form a partial circle.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #6: Insert a shape for the Tail
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Block Arrows section, click on the Pentagon icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
Note: You can also use any other suitable shape.
This will form the tail of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the arrow, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form a pentagon.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #7: Insert a shape for the bones
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Basic Shapes section, click on the Arc icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
Note: You can also use any other suitable shape.
This will form one of the bones of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the arc, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form an arc.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #8: Change the shape of the bones
Right-click on the arc shape.
In the menu that opens, click on the Style icon.
This opens the Theme Style menu.
Click on the icon Intense Line – Accent 1.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
This increases the weight of the arc shape.
Step #9: Make copies of the bones
Click on the arc shape.
Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the shape.
Press Ctrl+V to paste a copy of the shape.
Repeat these steps until you have at least six bones.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size the copies suitably.
Step #10: Add text boxes for categories
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Basic Shapes section, click on the Text Box icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
This will form one of the category boxes of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the box, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form a box.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #11: Add borders and text to the text box
Right-click on the text box.
In the menu that opens, click on the Outline icon.
This opens the Colors menu.
Select the Blue color from Standard Colors.
Note: You can also use any other color.
The text box now has a blue outline.
Double-click inside the text box and fill in the required text.
Step #12: Make copies of the text box
Click on the category text box.
Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the box to clipboard.
Press Ctrl+V on your keyboard to paste a copy of the box.
Repeat these steps to make as many copies as necessary.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size the copies suitably.
Edit the text inside each box as necessary.
Step #13: Add sub-category text boxes
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Basic Shapes section, click on the Text Box icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
This will form one of the sub-category boxes of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the box, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form a box.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Step #14: Add text and borders to the text box
Double-click inside the text box and fill in the required text.
Right-click on the text box.
In the menu that opens, click on the Outline icon.
This opens the Colors menu.
Select the Blue color from Standard Colors.
Note: You can also use any other color.
The text box now has a blue outline.
Step #15: Make copies of the text box
Click on the sub-category text box.
Press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the box.
Press Ctrl+V on your keyboard to paste a copy of the box.
Make as many copies as necessary.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size the copy suitably.
Edit the text inside each box as necessary.
Step #16: Add an eye to the fishbone diagram
This step is purely for decoration and optional.
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Basic Shapes section, click on the Circle Hollow icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
This will form the eye of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the icon, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form an eye.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Right-click on the eye.
In the menu that opens, click on the Fill icon.
This opens the Colors menu.
Select the Red color from Standard Colors.
Note: You can also use any other color.
The eye now has a red color.
Step #17: Add a mouth to the fishbone diagram
This step is purely for decoration and optional.
Open the Shapes menu again as described in Step #3.
In the Basic Shapes section, click on the Moon icon.
(As you hover your mouse over each icon, the name will be revealed.)
This will form the mouth of the fishbone diagram.
Once you click on the icon, the Shapes menu will disappear, and your cursor will change to a cross.
Position the cross suitably and drag it to form a mouth.
Use the handles at the edges, shown in red below, to position and size it suitably.
Right-click on the mouth.
In the menu that opens, click on the Fill icon.
This opens the Colors menu.
Select the Red color from Standard Colors.
Note: You can also use any other color.
The mouth now has a red color.
The generic fishbone diagram is now complete.
Conclusion
It may seem like a lot of steps, but it is easy to create a generic fishbone diagram in PowerPoint.
We have also shown you how you can decorate it. Use our ideas to create your own eye-catching fishbone diagrams.