# Issue tree

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Graphical breakdown for problem solving

Not to be confused with [Issue map](/source/Issue_map).

"Logic tree" redirects here. For trees as a logical proof procedure, see [Method of analytic tableaux](/source/Method_of_analytic_tableaux).

An issue tree showing how a company can increase profitability: A profitability tree is an example of an issue tree. It looks at different ways in which a company can increase its profitability. Starting from the key question on the left, it breaks it down between revenues and costs, and break these down into further details.

Information mapping Topics and fields Business decision mapping Data visualization Graphic communication Infographics Information design Knowledge visualization Mental model Morphological analysis Ontology (information science) Schema (psychology) Visual analytics Visual language Node–link approaches Argument map Cladistics Cognitive map Concept lattice Concept map Conceptual graph Decision tree Dendrogram Graph drawing Hyperbolic tree Hypertext Issue map Issue tree Layered graph drawing Mind map Object–role modeling Organizational chart Pathfinder network Radial tree Semantic network Sociogram Timeline Topic map Tree structure ZigZag See also Design rationale Diagrammatic reasoning Entity–relationship model Geovisualization List of concept- and mind-mapping software Olog Ontology (philosophy) Problem structuring methods Semantic Web Treemapping Wicked problem v t e

An **issue tree**, also called **logic tree**, is a graphical breakdown of a question that dissects it into its different components vertically and that progresses into details as it reads to the right.[1]: 47

Issue trees are useful in [problem solving](/source/Problem_solving) to identify the root causes of a problem as well as to identify its potential solutions. They also provide a reference point to see how each piece fits into the whole picture of a problem.[2]

## Types

According to professor of strategy Arnaud Chevallier, elaborating an approach used at [McKinsey & Company](/source/McKinsey_%26_Company),[3] there are two types of issue trees: diagnostic ones and solution ones.[4] Diagnostic trees break down a "why" key question, identifying all the possible root causes for the problem. Solution trees break down a "how" key question, identifying all the possible alternatives to fix the problem.[5]

## Rules

Four basic rules can help ensure that issue trees are optimal, according to Chevallier:[4]

1. Consistently answer a "why" or a "how" question

1. Progress from the key question to the analysis as it moves to the right

1. Have branches that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive ([MECE](/source/MECE))

1. Use an insightful breakdown

The requirement for issue trees to be collectively exhaustive implies that [divergent thinking](/source/Divergent_thinking) is a critical skill.[6]

## Applications

### In management interviews

Issue trees are used to answer questions in case interviews for management consulting positions.[7] A quantitative type of question, the [market sizing](/source/Market_analysis#Market_size) question, requires the interviewee to estimate the size of a data group such as a specific segment of a population, an amount of objects, a company's revenues, or similar.[8] The candidates are expected to use a structured and logical method of arriving at their answer, and using an issue tree provides a diagram to aid the candidate's logical reasoning. Issue trees are used for other types of case interview questions as well.[7]

## See also

- [Fault tree analysis](/source/Fault_tree_analysis)

- [Five whys](/source/Five_whys)

- [Horizon scanning](/source/Horizon_scanning)

- [Ishikawa diagram](/source/Ishikawa_diagram)

- [Root cause analysis](/source/Root_cause_analysis)

- [Why–because analysis](/source/Why%E2%80%93because_analysis)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Chevallier, Arnaud (2016). *Strategic thinking in complex problem solving*. Oxford; New York: [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190463908.001.0001](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780190463908.001.0001). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780190463908](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780190463908). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [940455195](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/940455195).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Strategy survival guide: Issue trees"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163843/http://interactive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/survivalguide/skills/s_issue.htm). *interactive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk*. London: Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. July 2004. Archived from [the original](http://interactive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/survivalguide/skills/s_issue.htm) on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2018-10-06. Also available in [PDF format](http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060213205515/http://strategy.gov.uk/downloads/survivalguide/downloads/ssg_v2.1.pdf).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Chevallier's writings (such as [Chevallier 2010a](#CITEREFChevallier2010a) and [Chevallier 2016](#CITEREFChevallier2016), pp. 243, 265) cite an earlier McKinsey publication that discusses issue maps among other problem-solving techniques: Davis, Ian; Keeling, David; Schreier, Paul; Williams, Ashley (August 2007). *The McKinsey approach to problem solving* (McKinsey Staff Paper 66). New York: [McKinsey & Company](/source/McKinsey_%26_Company). pp. 9–13. Other earlier McKinsey-related publications discuss issue trees too, such as: Rasiel, Ethan M.; Friga, Paul N. (2002). [*The McKinsey mind: understanding and implementing the problem-solving tools and management techniques of the world's top strategic consulting firm*](https://archive.org/details/mckinseymindunde00rasi_0/page/11). McKinsey trilogy. Vol. 2. Chicago, IL: [McGraw-Hill](/source/McGraw-Hill). pp. [11–29](https://archive.org/details/mckinseymindunde00rasi_0/page/11). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0071374299](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0071374299). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [47092065](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/47092065).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Chevallier_2010_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Chevallier_2010_4-1) Chevallier, Arnaud (2 July 2010a). ["Build issue trees: diagnosis trees and solution trees"](https://powerful-problem-solving.com/build-issue-trees/). *powerful-problem-solving.com*. Retrieved 2018-10-06. See also: Chevallier, Arnaud (14 December 2010). ["Be insightful"](https://powerful-problem-solving.com/be-insightful/). *powerful-problem-solving.com*. Retrieved 2018-10-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** See also the how–why diagrams in: Culmsee, Paul; Awati, Kailash (2013) [2011]. ["Visualising complexity"](https://books.google.com/books?id=CUgasLvgvdEC&pg=PA159). *The Heretic's Guide to Best Practices: the reality of managing complex problems in organisations*. Bloomington: iUniverse, Inc. pp. [159–167](https://books.google.com/books?id=CUgasLvgvdEC&pg=PA159). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781462058549](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781462058549). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [767703320](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/767703320).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Chevallier, Arnaud (6 July 2010b). ["Diverge effectively in your thinking"](https://powerful-problem-solving.com/diverge-effectively-in-your-thinking/). *powerful-problem-solving.com*. Retrieved 2018-10-06.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cheng_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cheng_7-1) Cheng, Victor (2012). ["The issue tree"](https://archive.org/details/caseinterviewsec0000chen/page/73). *Case interview secrets: a former McKinsey interviewer reveals how to get multiple job offers in consulting*. Seattle, WA: Innovation Press. pp. [73–102](https://archive.org/details/caseinterviewsec0000chen/page/73). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780984183524](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780984183524). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [803397971](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/803397971).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Market sizing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190731143741/https://www.gradinterviewprep.com/market-sizing). *gradinterviewprep.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.gradinterviewprep.com/market-sizing) on 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2019-07-31.

## Further reading

- Chevallier, Arnaud (11 April 2011). ["Don't get lost in the terminology"](https://powerful-problem-solving.com/dont-get-lost-in-the-terminology/). *powerful-problem-solving.com*. Retrieved 2018-10-06. Issue trees, issue maps, logic trees, *how* trees, *why* trees, diagnostic trees, solution trees, decision trees, fact trees, hypothesis trees... How should you call your trees?... Call your tree what you want it to do.

- Chevallier, Arnaud (19 February 2011). ["Use your issue tree as a decision tree"](https://powerful-problem-solving.com/use-your-issue-tree-as-a-decision-tree/). *powerful-problem-solving.com*. Retrieved 2018-10-06.

- [Conn, Charles](/source/Charles_R._Conn); McLean, Robert (2019). *Bulletproof problem solving: the one skill that changes everything*. Hoboken, NJ: [John Wiley & Sons](/source/John_Wiley_%26_Sons). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781119553021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781119553021). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1047803356](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1047803356).

- Friga, Paul N. (2009). ["Develop the issue tree"](https://archive.org/details/mckinseyengageme00frig/page/91). *The McKinsey engagement: a powerful toolkit for more efficient & effective team problem solving*. McKinsey trilogy. Vol. 3. New York: [McGraw-Hill](/source/McGraw-Hill). pp. [91–96](https://archive.org/details/mckinseyengageme00frig/page/91). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0071497411](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0071497411). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [166390293](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/166390293).

- Garrette, Bernard; Phelps, Corey; Sibony, Olivier (2018). *Cracked it!: how to solve big problems and sell solutions like top strategy consultants*. Cham: [Palgrave Macmillan](/source/Palgrave_Macmillan). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-319-89375-4](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-319-89375-4). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783319893747](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783319893747). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1028620732](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1028620732).

- [Issue Trees and Hypothesis Trees - an Introduction](https://issuetrees.com/)

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