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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  UX Research User Interviews |  Facilitation Consensus Workshop |  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 teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | When a group needs a solid decision without outvoting individual factions, a Consensus Workshop creates a negotiable common ground. It makes agreement, reservations, and open tensions discussable at the same 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 30–60 min per interview | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 1 participant per interview | 5-30 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Consensus Clusters, Theme Titles, Priority Areas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | FacilitationConsensusWorkshopAlignment | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |