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| Criterion | ![]() Operations 5 Whys | ![]() Operations A3 Problem Solving | ![]() Product Discovery Experiment Canvas | ![]() Product Discovery Test Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | When experiments become unreadable after the fact, it arranges hypothesis, signal, and learning goal on a single canvas. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a Completed Experiment Canvas and a Success Metric. | The Test Card turns a critical assumption into a testable claim and specifies in advance which result counts as success. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 45-90 min | 30-60 min | 20-35 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Completed Experiment Canvas, Success Metric | Test Card with a pre-set threshold |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis |



