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| Criterion | ![]() Decision Making Force Field Analysis | ![]() Operations Causal Factor Analysis | ![]() Operations Change Analysis | ![]() Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In change initiatives, supporting and restraining forces sit at the table at the same time. Force Field Analysis makes these tensions explicit and shows where change can be pushed forward by strengthening or relieving. | 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 deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | 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 | 45-90 min | 2-6 h | 45-120 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Force Field Map, Change Levers, Risk Notes | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | ChangeDecisionStrategy | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |



