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Criterion
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
Paper notes move from an inbox to action, project and calendar collections.
Operations
Getting Things Done
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
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.With many open commitments and ideas in daily life, a reliable external storage system emerges. The method relieves the mind so priority and context don't have to compete in memory.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
30-60 min1-2 h Setup, laufend15-30 min45-90 min
Participantsdifferent
2-812-62-5
Formatdifferent
WorkshopAsyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation BacklogAction Lists, Project List, Review RoutineRoot cause notes, CountermeasuresA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis
Tagsno overlap
Root causeQualityOperations
ProductivityPlanningTasksExecution
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
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