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| Criterion |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations Kaizen Event |  Operations Learning Review |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | For a tightly scoped process segment with noticeable waste, the method bundles shared energy for change. It suits situations that call for fast learning loops and visible adjustments. | After a project phase with mixed results, the method makes learning from the individual case reusable. It connects events, decisions, and systemic conditions into robust insights. | 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 | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 0.5-5 Tage | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 4-10 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Kaizen Charter, Waste List, Improvement Experiments, Standard Work Update | Learning Review Notes, System Factors, Improvement Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LearningOperationsImprovement | LeanContinuous improvementOperations | LearningRetrospectiveIncidentOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |