Using fishbone analysis to improve the quality of proposals for science and technology programs

The paper discusses the use of ‘fishbone diagrams’ to help S&T program managers improve the quality of program proposals. By using this tool, they can make good connections between problems, goals, objectives, and measurable indicators. In order effectively to apply fishbone diagrams in S&T program proposals, this paper proposes combining fishbone diagrams with the ‘mutually exclusive; collectively exhaustive principle’ and the concepts of problem tree and objective tree from the logical framework approach. To demonstrate the process, an example is presented of a Taiwanese Government S&T program. We hope to show that fishbone analysis is a necessary tool for program planning if it is to produce significant outputs, outcomes, and impacts in the future. This paper should serve as a reference for S&T program managers and staff when developing program proposals. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.