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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Engineering Hypothesis-Driven Troubleshooting |  Business Strategy VRIO Framework |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 systems fail unexpectedly, spontaneous attempts often produce more noise than insight. Hypothesis-driven Troubleshooting translates symptoms into testable assumptions and makes troubleshooting learnable. | The VRIO Framework rates resources and capabilities on whether they are Valuable, Rare, Inimitable, and Organized. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a VRIO table and strategic actions. | 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 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 30-240 min | 90-180 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 1-6 | 3-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Hypothesis Log, Test Plan, Evidence Notes, Diagnosis Summary | VRIO Table, Strategic Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | TroubleshootingProblem solvingDiagnosis | StrategyDiagnosisBusiness modelCapability | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |