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| Criterion |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Agile Starfish Retrospective |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | 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 improvement options need to be sorted more finely than just start and stop, it brings observations into clear kinds of action. This makes visible what should be done more, less, newly, or continued. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 10-20 min daily | 45-90 min | 45-90 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1 | 2-5 | 4-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Starfish Board, Practice Changes, Experiments | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | RetrospectiveImprovementExperimentsTeam | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |