View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:Failure Scenario AnalysisFailure Mode and Effects AnalysisCausal Factor AnalysisRoot Cause Tree Analysis
| Criterion | ![]() Engineering Failure Scenario Analysis | ![]() Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis | ![]() Operations Causal Factor Analysis | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In critical processes, it is not enough to plan only for the normal case. Failure Scenario Analysis looks at the path into failure and shows which failures, chains, and control gaps cause the most damage. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | 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. | 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 | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 2-6 h | 2-6 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-10 | 3-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Failure Scenarios, Risk Notes, Control Gaps, Test and Response Actions | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | FailureResilienceRisk | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality |



