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Criterion
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration for Bucket System.
Agile
Bucket System
A 5 Whys working surface connects an observable problem with evidenced causes, marked uncertainty and concrete countermeasures with ownership.
Operations
5 Whys
Purposedifferent
When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions.When a large batch of work needs a fast, rough estimate, it sorts items into predefined size buckets. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as a Bucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, and Split Candidates.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
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
30-120 min30-90 min15-30 min
Participantsdifferent
2-63-122-6
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Observation Notes, Improvement IdeasBucketed Backlog, Relative Estimates, Split CandidatesRoot cause notes, Countermeasures
Tagsno overlap
LeanObservationProcessOperations
EstimationBacklogRelative sizing
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
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A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration for Affinity Estimation.
Agile
Affinity Estimation
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis