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| Criterion |  Operations Change Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Barrier Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | 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. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 15-30 min | 45–90 min | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-6 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog |
Tags1 shared | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeSafetyIncident |