View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Operations Process Mapping |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Systems Thinking CATWOE Analysis |  Systems Thinking Rich Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | CATWOE structures a problem from six viewpoints and prevents too narrow a view of the situation. Different experiences of the system become comparably discussable this way. | A Rich Picture brings an unclear situation onto a shared drawing. It captures actors, tensions, information flows, and blind spots before the team jumps to solutions too early. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-120 min | 45-90 min | 30-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 3-8 | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | CATWOE Canvas, Root Definition, Stakeholder Perspectives, Constraints | Rich Picture, Problem Framing Notes |
Tagsno overlap | ProcessOperationsImprovement | LeanObservationProcessOperations | Systems thinkingFramingStakeholders | Systems thinkingSoft systemsFramingVisualization |