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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Barrier Analysis | ![]() Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis | ![]() Operations A3 Problem Solving | ![]() Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | 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. | 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 a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitysame | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 45-90 min | 45-90 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-8 | 2-5 | 3-8 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeSafetyIncident | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |



