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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Architecture C4 Model |  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. | The C4 Model makes a system legible across several resolution levels, from context down to code. It suits situations where different audiences need to understand the same architecture from different altitudes. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 1-4 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-5 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Context Diagram, Container Diagram, Component Diagram | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ArchitectureCommunicationVisualization | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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