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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  UX Research User Interviews |  Operations Gemba Walk |  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 there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 30–60 min per interview | 30-120 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 1 participant per interview | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | LeanObservationProcessOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |