View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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 research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-6 Wochen | 1-3 h | 45–90 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 2-8 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |