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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 2-4 h | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog |
Tags1 shared | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | Root causeQualityOperations |
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