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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Operations Learning Review |  Agile Sprint Retrospective |  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. | After a project phase with mixed results, the method makes learning from the individual case reusable. It connects events, decisions, and systemic conditions into robust insights. | When a sprint is over and friction shouldn't simply be carried forward, it opens the view onto collaboration and patterns. It creates space to see causes and changes together. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | Up to 3 hours for a one-month Sprint; shorter Sprints are usually shorter | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 3-10 | Scrum Team | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Learning Review Notes, System Factors, Improvement Actions | Improvement actions, Team agreements | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | LearningRetrospectiveIncidentOperations | RetrospectiveImprovementLearning | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |