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| Criterion |  Operations Process Mapping |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | 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 | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 15-45 min | 15-30 min | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 1-10 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | ProcessOperationsImprovement | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanObservationProcessOperations |