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Criterion
A 5 Whys working surface connects an observable problem with evidenced causes, marked uncertainty and concrete countermeasures with ownership.
Operations
5 Whys
Paper illustration for Contradiction Analysis.
Innovation
Contradiction Analysis
Paper illustration for TRIZ
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 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
LowMediumHigh
Timedifferent
15-30 min60-120 min1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
2-62-82-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Root cause notes, CountermeasuresContradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept IdeasContradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts
Tags1 shared
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving
InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis
Paper illustration for 8D Problem Solving.
Operations
8D Problem Solving
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration of Barrier Analysis with its method-specific working model.
Operations
Barrier Analysis