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| Criterion |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|
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 series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | 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 | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-8 h | 2-4 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tags1 shared | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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