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Criterion
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration for Contradiction Analysis.
Innovation
Contradiction Analysis
Paper fishbone diagram with a measurable effect at the head and six labeled cause branches.
Operations
Fishbone Diagram
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 system should improve while another measure suffers as a result, the method makes the underlying conflict precisely formulable. It separates the desired effect from its side effect. This makes solutions possible that address the contradiction deliberately instead of half-heartedly.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumLow
Timedifferent
30-120 min60-120 min30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
2-62-82-8
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Observation Notes, Improvement IdeasContradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept IdeasFishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog
Tagsno overlap
LeanObservationProcessOperations
ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving
Root causeQualityOperations
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration for 8D Problem Solving.
Operations
8D Problem Solving
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Operations
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis