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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Evaporating Cloud |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The method makes visible why two seemingly incompatible demands arise and which assumption must be tested to resolve the conflict. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | 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. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 60-120 min | 1-6 Wochen | 2-4 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-10 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Conflict Cloud, Assumption List, Breakthrough Ideas, Next Experiments | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Theory of ConstraintsAssumptionsSystems thinking | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | Root causeSafetyIncident | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |