View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
Selected:Root Cause AnalysisRoot Cause Tree AnalysisAssumption MappingFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 1-3 h | 45-60 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |