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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Runbook |  DevOps Incident Command |  Operations Root Cause 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. | For recurring operational tasks or incidents, the method keeps solid action logic ready. It reduces uncertainty when time pressure, role changes, or rare situations demand fast access. | During an acute incident with several people involved, the method creates a clear leadership and communication structure. It reduces chaos when fast coordination and clean situational awareness are both needed at once. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 20-60 min | As needed | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-4 | 4-15 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Runbook, Checklist, Escalation Path | Incident Log, Action Tracker, Stakeholder Updates | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | OperationsReliabilityDocumentation | IncidentOperationsReliability | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |