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Selected:5 WhysARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs)Root Cause Tree AnalysisA3 Problem Solving
| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Architecture ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | ARID examines how well developers can work with a technical design. It focuses on a part of the system that can still be revised, between the architecture overview and the detailed specification. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 2–4 h review as a planning range; preparation and evaluation additional | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | Designers, developers as users, and facilitation | 2-8 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Prioritized development tasks, Jointly produced code or pseudocode, Observed difficulties and open design questions, Proposed design revisions | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ArchitectureEngineeringFeedbackValidationTasks | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |