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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Accountability Ladder | ![]() Operations Barrier Analysis | ![]() Architecture Architecture Decision Record | ![]() Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With defensive reactions to problems, the method shifts the view from justification to ownership. It makes visible which reaction stage a person or team is currently stuck on. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 2-4 h | 15-45 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 2-6 | 1-3 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Ownership Reflection, Action Commitment, Coaching Notes | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | ResponsibilityLeadershipTeam | Root causeSafetyIncident | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |



