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| Criterion | ![]() Operations 5 Whys | ![]() Innovation Design Charrette | ![]() Operations Root Cause Analysis | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | In a tightly timed design process with many participants, the method pools several lines of thinking in a short time. It brings parallel design energy without letting the discussion tip into endless coordination. This quickly produces solid directions for architecture or space. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | Halber Tag bis mehrere Tage | 1-4 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 10-50 | 3-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Sketches and Concepts, Consolidated Solution Sketch, Prioritized Direction | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | BrainstormingWorkshopCollaborationIdeation | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |



