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Criterion
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 for Trade-off Analysis.
Decision Making
Trade-off Analysis
Purposedifferent
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.For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together.With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects.
Complexitysame
MediumMediumMedium
Timedifferent
1-3 h45-90 min45-120 min
Participantsdifferent
3-102-52-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement BacklogA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause AnalysisTrade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides
Tagsno overlap
ProcessOperationsImprovement
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of a decision table with criteria rows, weighted ratings, and a narrowly leading alternative.
Decision Making
Decision Matrix
Gemba Walk workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
Gemba Walk
Paper illustration for Kepner-Tregoe
Operations
Kepner-Tregoe