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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Product Discovery Test Card |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  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. | The Test Card turns a critical assumption into a testable claim and specifies in advance which result counts as success. | 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. | 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 | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 20-35 min | 2-8 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 1-5 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Test Card with a pre-set threshold | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryHypothesis | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |