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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 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. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-30 min | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tags1 shared | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |
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