View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Operations After-Action Review |  Agile Sprint Retrospective |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Operations Process Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a sprint is over and friction shouldn't simply be carried forward, it opens the view onto collaboration and patterns. It creates space to see causes and changes together. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | Up to 3 hours for a one-month Sprint; shorter Sprints are usually shorter | 45-90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | Scrum Team | 3-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Improvement actions, Team agreements | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | LearningOperationsImprovement | RetrospectiveImprovementLearning | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | ProcessOperationsImprovement |