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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Product Discovery Test Card |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Product Discovery Hypothesis Prioritization Canvas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The Test Card turns a critical assumption into a testable claim and specifies in advance which result counts as success. | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | When many hypotheses compete for attention, it brings order to their learning sequence and importance. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a prioritization canvas and a hypothesis backlog. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 20-35 min | 45-90 min | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 1-5 | 2-5 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Test Card with a pre-set threshold | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Prioritization Canvas, Hypothesis Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | ExperimentsPrioritizationDiscoveryHypothesis |