View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Innovation Starbursting | ![]() Operations 5 Whys | ![]() Operations Kepner-Tregoe |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | Helps clarify ideas, open questions, and testable next steps in concrete terms. It opens the thinking space, collects ideas, and leads to testable options. The result is captured as a star-shaped question map, question list, and assumption 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. | For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 15-30 min | 2-8 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Star-Shaped Question Map, Question List, Assumption List | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan |
Tagsno overlap | BrainstormingIdeationWorkshopDiscovery | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.






