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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Innovation Contradiction Analysis |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  Innovation TRIZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 system should improve while another measure suffers as a result, the method makes the underlying conflict precisely formulable. It separates the desired effect from its side effect. This makes solutions possible that address the contradiction deliberately instead of half-heartedly. | For a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 60-120 min | 2-4 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-8 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Contradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept Ideas | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity |