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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Innovation Contradiction Analysis |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  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 disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | 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 | High | High |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 60-120 min | 2-8 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Contradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept Ideas | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts |
Tags1 shared | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity |