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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Agile 4Ls 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. | 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. | When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time. | 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 | 1-4 h | 45–75 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 3-8 | Team members involved | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | 4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |