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| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  Innovation SCAMPER |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | 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. | For an existing solution under pressure to change, the method deliberately opens space for systematic variants. It directs attention to rebuilding, combining, and repurposing rather than only new basic ideas. This produces concrete evolution paths for products, offerings, or workflows. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-30 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-6 | 2-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | SCAMPER Idea List, Concept Shortlist, Variation Notes |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityReframingInnovation |
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