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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Process Mapping | ![]() Operations ALPEN Method | ![]() Agile Mad Sad Glad | ![]() Agile Starfish Retrospective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | When a team's or workshop's mood needs to become readable, it structures emotional signals with little setup. It makes strain, relief, and sources of energy tangible. | When improvement options need to be sorted more finely than just start and stop, it brings observations into clear kinds of action. This makes visible what should be done more, less, newly, or continued. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 10-20 min daily | 30-60 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1 | 3-10 | 4-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Emotion Board, Themes, Action Items | Starfish Board, Practice Changes, Experiments |
Tagsno overlap | ProcessOperationsImprovement | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | RetrospectiveTeamReflection | RetrospectiveImprovementExperimentsTeam |



