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| Criterion |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Systems Thinking Futures Wheel |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Operations Process Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | The Futures Wheel helps explore the consequences of a decision, a trend, or a strategic move in a structured way. It makes visible which first, second, and third-order effects could arise from an event. | 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. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-120 min | 60-120 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-10 | 2-5 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Futures Wheel, Consequence Chains, Strategic Signals | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | LeanObservationProcessOperations | ForesightSystems thinkingSignals | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | ProcessOperationsImprovement |