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Selected:Assumption MappingCausal Factor AnalysisRoot Cause Tree AnalysisFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | 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. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 45-60 min | 2-6 h | 1-3 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |