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| Criterion |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  Operations Kaizen Event |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | For a tightly scoped process segment with noticeable waste, the method bundles shared energy for change. It suits situations that call for fast learning loops and visible adjustments. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 0.5-5 Tage | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 4-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Kaizen Charter, Waste List, Improvement Experiments, Standard Work Update | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeQualityOperations | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | LeanContinuous improvementOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |