methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Paper illustration of a yellow story card, blue rule cards, green example cards and a red question card on a light workspace.
Agile
Example Mapping
A 5 Whys working surface connects an observable problem with evidenced causes, marked uncertainty and concrete countermeasures with ownership.
Operations
5 Whys
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis
Purposedifferent
When a story carries business rules and exceptions, it brings clarity before implementation. It makes examples, open questions, and boundaries visible enough that the logic becomes jointly sound.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.For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together.When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another.
Complexitydifferent
LowLowMediumMedium
Timedifferent
30-60 min15-30 min45-90 min1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
3-72-62-53-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Example Map, Acceptance Criteria, Open QuestionsRoot cause notes, CountermeasuresA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause AnalysisProblem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan
Tagsno overlap
Behavior-Driven DevelopmentRequirementsExamplesRefinement
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident
Add more methods