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| Criterion |  Operations Runbook |  Operations Gemba Walk |  DevOps Blameless Postmortem |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For recurring operational tasks or incidents, the method keeps solid action logic ready. It reduces uncertainty when time pressure, role changes, or rare situations demand fast access. | 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. | After an incident with damage or a near miss, the method creates a sober field for learning without assigning blame. It directs attention to the course of events, conditions, and effective countermeasures. | 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 | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-60 min | 30-120 min | 30-90 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-4 | 2-6 | 3-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Runbook, Checklist, Escalation Path | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Postmortem Doc, Action Items, Timeline | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | OperationsReliabilityDocumentation | LeanObservationProcessOperations | Site Reliability EngineeringIncidentLearningReliability | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |