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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Systems Thinking Future Reality Tree |  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. | A Future Reality Tree shows how desired actions are meant to lead to a better system state. The method checks whether a path of change holds together logically before time flows into implementation. | 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 | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 2-4 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Future Reality Tree, Negative Branches, Assumption List, Improved Injections | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Theory of ConstraintsSystems thinkingChange | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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