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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Learning Review |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Agile 4Ls Retrospective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | After a project phase with mixed results, the method makes learning from the individual case reusable. It connects events, decisions, and systemic conditions into robust insights. | 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. | When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-3 h | 2-8 h | 45–75 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-10 | 2-8 | Team members involved |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Learning Review Notes, System Factors, Improvement Actions | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | 4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LearningRetrospectiveIncidentOperations | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam |