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| Criterion |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Operations Bottleneck Analysis |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | For a flow that backs up at one point, the method looks for the capacity limit with the greatest leverage. It explains why extra effort elsewhere barely improves throughput. | For a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 1-3 h | 2-4 h | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 3-8 | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Bottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up Measures | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | FlowMeasurementConstraints | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |