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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Knowledge Modeling Ontology Design Patterns |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Ontology Design Patterns provide reusable building blocks for recurring modeling problems. The method brings structure to the search for clean concepts, relationships, and roles. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h pro Pattern | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-5 | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Selected Patterns, Adapted Schema Fragments, Pattern Documentation | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | OntologyPatternsReuseSemanticModeling | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |