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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Product Discovery Smoke Test |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When demand only needs to be roughly verified, it tests interest with minimal effort. It measures whether people would take a next step at all. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-3 h | 1-5 Tage | 1-6 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-8 | Nutzertraffic | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Interest Metrics, Conversion Signal, Learning Note | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | ValidationExperimentsDemandGrowth | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause |