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Criterion
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
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.A Current Reality Tree condenses many symptoms into a few causal chains. The method makes visible which core problems drive several negative effects at once.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
LowHighLow
Timedifferent
30-120 min2-6 h15-30 min
Participantsdifferent
2-63-82-6
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Observation Notes, Improvement IdeasCurrent Reality Tree, Core Problems, Intervention IdeasRoot cause notes, Countermeasures
Tagsno overlap
LeanObservationProcessOperations
Systems thinkingRoot causeConstraintsCausality
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration for Causal Factor Analysis.
Operations
Causal Factor Analysis
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe
Paper illustration for Root Cause Analysis.
Operations
Root Cause Analysis