# cause-and-effect

Runs structured Ishikawa diagram investigations on development bottlenecks. Pinpoints root causes across technical and team factors.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 installs · ★ 1787
- Author: NeoLabHQ
- License: GPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-26
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cause-and-effect

## What it does

The skill organizes incident post-mortems using six classic dimensions: people, procedures, tech stack, environment, approaches, and inputs. The agent frames the core problem. Then it systematically probes each branch.

It differentiates secondary contributing factors from underlying breakdowns. At the end, it ranks proposed fixes based on impact and implementation effort. The workflow also hooks into the `/why` command for deeper inquiry.

Vague problem statements produce unfocused breakdowns. That makes gathering raw metrics and logs before triggering the command necessary.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill cause-and-effect -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/cause-and-effect/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill cause-and-effect -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill cause-and-effect -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit cause-and-effect
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill cause-and-effect -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --path skills/cause-and-effect
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill cause-and-effect -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/cause-and-effect/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- track down latency drivers in slow API endpoints
- isolate sources of flaky test failures in continuous integration
- uncover reasons behind delayed product deliveries
- evaluate root causes during post-incident investigations

## Example prompts
- /cause-and-effect latency spikes on checkout endpoint
- /cause-and-effect test suite fails intermittently on CI
- /cause-and-effect migration project exceeded delivery estimate

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From the same set: [neolabhq/context-engineering-kit](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/neolabhq/context-engineering-kit.md) — 64 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md