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Selected:Causal Factor AnalysisAssumption SurfacingRoot Cause Tree AnalysisFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. | 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 | High | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |