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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration for Theory of Constraints.
Operations
Theory of Constraints
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Purposedifferent
Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.For a system that does not get faster despite effort, the method directs attention to the bottleneck. It concentrates improvement on the point that actually limits throughput.When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions.
Complexitydifferent
MediumHighLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h2-4 h Analyse, laufend30-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-122-6
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsConstraint Map, Improvement Plan, Flow MetricsObservation Notes, Improvement Ideas
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
OperationsConstraintsFlowImprovement
LeanObservationProcessOperations
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Process Mapping method illustration showing its working structure
Operations
Process Mapping
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
Paper illustration of a review with planned work, actual event sequence, comparison, and assigned improvement actions.
Operations
After-Action Review
Paper illustration for Bottleneck Analysis.
Operations
Bottleneck Analysis