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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  Innovation Design Thinking |  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. | 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. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | 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 | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 2-4 h | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 4-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Root causeSafetyIncident | InnovationPrototypeResearch | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |