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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  DevOps Incident Timeline Analysis |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For an incident with an unclear sequence, the method makes the timeline precisely visible. It separates perception, reaction, and delay so cause and effect become more clearly readable. | For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | 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 | Medium | Medium | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 60-180 min | 2-8 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 3-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Incident Timeline, Evidence Log, Delay Analysis, Improvement Actions | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | IncidentTimelineSite Reliability Engineering | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |