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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Facilitation Stakeholder Mapping |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an initiative depends on many people, interests, and power dynamics, Stakeholder Mapping systematically orders the environment. It shows who influences, who is affected, and where relationship management or safeguarding matters first. | 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 several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 60–90 min | 1-3 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Stakeholder Map, Engagement Plan, Risk Notes | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | StakeholdersAlignmentFacilitationChange | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation |