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| Criterion |  Engineering Hypothesis-Driven Troubleshooting |  Innovation TRIZ |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When systems fail unexpectedly, spontaneous attempts often produce more noise than insight. Hypothesis-driven Troubleshooting translates symptoms into testable assumptions and makes troubleshooting learnable. | For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-240 min | 1-4 h | 15-30 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 2-8 | 2-6 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Hypothesis Log, Test Plan, Evidence Notes, Diagnosis Summary | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tags1 shared | TroubleshootingProblem solvingDiagnosis | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |