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| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Business Strategy Value Chain Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | Value Chain Analysis shows where value is created, costs accrue, and differentiation becomes possible along the process. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and courses of action. The result is captured as a value-chain map and lever list. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-6 Wochen | Half day | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 4-10 | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Value Chain Map, Lever List | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | StrategyBusiness modelDiagnosisAnalysis | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |