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| Criterion |  Innovation Lean Startup |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Operations 5 Whys |  Growth A/B Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For uncertain business assumptions, the method forces the idea into contact with real market reactions early. It separates wishful picture, assumption, and observable behavior, so that learning becomes faster than planning. This translates uncertainty into measurable insight. | For an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | 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. | When two variants compete, discussions quickly decide by taste rather than effect. A/B Testing checks behavior under controlled conditions and separates real improvement from chance or expectation effects. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | Wochen bis Monate je Lernzyklus | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 15-30 min | 1-4 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-8 | 2-6 | 1-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Hypothesis list, MVPs, Learning reports, Pivot or persevere decision | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Experiment results, Decision log, Learning summary |
Tagsno overlap | LeanStartupValidationMVP | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | ExperimentsGrowthAnalyticsValidation |