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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations Ivy Lee Method |  Operations Eat the Frog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | With a restless workday full of too many open items, the method creates radical simplicity. It directs attention to a short sequence instead of a broad, still-open field. | The method protects energy and attention for the task that creates the largest progress and is often postponed. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-4 h | 5-10 min daily | 15-90 min daily |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-8 | 1 | 1 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Daily Priority List, Completion Notes | Priority Task, Completion Note, Daily Focus |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | PrioritizationProductivityExecution | PrioritizationProductivityFocusExecution |