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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Systems Thinking Stock and Flow Diagram |  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. | A Stock and Flow Diagram shows how stocks, inflows, and outflows shape a system over time. It is especially suited when growth, delays, or capacity limits determine the dynamics. | 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 | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 2-6 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-6 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Stock and Flow Model, Dynamics Notes, Simulation Hypotheses | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | DynamicsSimulationFeedbackSystems thinking | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |
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