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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Causal Factor Analysis | ![]() Innovation Brainstorming | ![]() Innovation Reverse Brainstorming |
|---|---|---|---|
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 a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | For persistent errors or blockages, the method shifts the view to the opposite of the desired effect. It exposes the mechanics of failure and makes hidden causes easier to grasp. This makes improvement more concrete and the problem clearer. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 30-60 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-12 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Reverse Ideas, Risk Themes, Solution Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityRisk |
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