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| Criterion |  Systems Thinking Soft Systems Methodology |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  DevOps Blameless Postmortem |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Soft Systems Methodology helps explore unclear or politically charged problems systematically. Instead of forcing a quick answer, the method builds a shared understanding of perspectives and room for action. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | 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 | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 0.5-3 Tage | 2-4 h | 30-90 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-15 | 2-6 | 3-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Rich Picture, Root Definitions, Conceptual Models, Change Agenda | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Postmortem Doc, Action Items, Timeline | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Soft systemsComplexitySensemakingSystems thinking | Root causeSafetyIncident | Site Reliability EngineeringIncidentLearningReliability | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |