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| Criterion | ![]() Knowledge Modeling PARA Method | ![]() Operations Waste Analysis | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The PARA Method organizes knowledge into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. It creates order when digital notes, files, and tasks no longer cleanly fit current work. | For a process that keeps people busy but creates little value, the method exposes waste. It directs attention to unnecessary movement, waiting times, rework, and overdelivery. | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h Setup, laufend | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1 | 2-8 | 4-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | PARA Structure, Project Notes, Knowledge Archive | Waste Map, Prioritized Waste, Improvement Backlog | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | KnowledgeProductivityOrganization | WasteLeanProcess improvement | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |



