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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Facilitation 3-Circle Venn Diagram |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | When three perspectives matter at the same time, a Three-Circle Venn Diagram shows the overlaps and remainders precisely. It makes visible where shared effect arises and where only a partial perspective applies. | 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 | High | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-12 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Venn Diagram, Overlap Notes, Differentiators | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | ComparisonFacilitationAlignment | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |