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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Polarity Mapping |  Operations Theory of Constraints |  Operations Process Mapping |  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. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | 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 | Medium | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 2-4 h Analyse, laufend | 1-3 h | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-12 | 3-12 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance Actions | Constraint Map, Improvement Plan, Flow Metrics | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership | OperationsConstraintsFlowImprovement | ProcessOperationsImprovement | LeanObservationProcessOperations |