1. A method for operating and maintaining a wireless communication system comprising the steps of: providing causal data for the wireless communication system, the causal data relating a plurality of causes to a plurality of system effects; graphically representing the causal data in the form of a diagram using a user interface; manipulating the diagram to evaluate the causal data to identify a likely cause for an observed system effect; organizing the plurality of causes according to at least one classification of causes representing each of the plurality of system effects as a fishbone diagram, the fishbone diagram including a backbone; and representing the at least one classification of causes as a rib extending from the backbone.