Bow-tie diagram
A bow-tie diagram is a graphic tool used to simplify understanding of the process leading to damage or loss. The diagram records the results of an analysis based on a defined Event and shows all of the physically possible Mechanisms to the left of the Event and the physically possible Outcomes of the Event on the right. The shape of the diagram resembles that of a bow tie, after which it is named.[3] The bow-tie diagram can be used proactively to record the identification and analysis all possible damage processes in a particular situation and act as an index of the various features of design and management systems that control the risk of such processes. They may also be used to contribute to the structure of an analysis of an Event that has occurred (an 'accident' analysis). In this way the bow-tie diagram is useful for a structured overview of all sources of risk. The diagram follows the same basic principles as those on which fault tree analysis and event tree analysis are based, but, in being far less complex than these, is attractive as a means of rapidly establishing an overall scope of risk concerns for an organisation, only