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Selected:Root Cause Tree AnalysisRiskiest Assumption TestAssumption MappingFailure Mode and Effects Analysis
| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Product Discovery Riskiest Assumption Test |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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 an idea hinges on one critical unknown, it prioritizes testing that exact piece of uncertainty first. It separates problem, assumption, solution, and evidence. The result is captured as a prioritized list of assumptions, a test plan, and a result report. | 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 | 1-3 h | 1-2 Wochen pro Iteration | 45-60 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-6 | 2-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Prioritized Assumption List, Test Plan, Results Report | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | ExperimentsValidationDiscoveryAssumptions | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause |