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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Innovation Brainstorming |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Innovation Lotus Blossom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | 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 a central question feels too large, the method breaks it into neighboring topic fields with their own depth of ideation. It holds structure and openness at the same time, so adjacent perspectives don't get lost. This grows an idea space out of a core problem. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 30-60 min | 45-90 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 4-12 | 2-5 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Lotus Diagram, Idea Themes, Shortlist |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityDivergenceWorkshop |