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| Criterion |  Operations Process Mapping |  Innovation Design Thinking |  Innovation Design Sprint |  Operations After-Action Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 4-5 Tage | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-10 | 5-8 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | ProcessOperationsImprovement | InnovationPrototypeResearch | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation | LearningOperationsImprovement |