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| Criterion |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Operations 5 Whys |  Innovation TRIZ |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 2-8 h | 15-30 min | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts |
Tags1 shared | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity |
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