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| Criterion |  Engineering Fault Isolation |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In technical failures, the visible symptom often gets mixed up with the actual cause. Fault Isolation narrows the fault space and progressively reduces which part of the system is truly affected. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list. | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-180 min | 10-20 min daily | Half day | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 1 | 3-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes |
Tagsno overlap | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | StrategyAnalysisPlanning |