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| Criterion | ![]() Operations After-Action Review | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Operations Process Mapping | ![]() Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-3 h | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 4-10 | 3-10 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | LearningOperationsImprovement | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | ProcessOperationsImprovement | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |



