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| Criterion |  Facilitation Timeline |  Operations Process Mapping |  Facilitation Fishbowl Discussion |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a project, incident, or change process is only remembered in fragments, Timeline brings the sequence back into a readable form. It makes turning points, precursors, and after-effects recognizable over the course of time. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | When a controversial topic needs depth and discipline at the same time, Fishbowl Discussion makes the structure of the conversation transparent. The format keeps the core small enough for real dialogue and open enough for controlled turnover. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 1-3 h | 45-90 min | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-12 | 3-10 | 8-80 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Timeline, Milestones, Insight Notes | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Discussion Insights, Observed Tensions, Follow-up Questions | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | TimelineFacilitationSequence | ProcessOperationsImprovement | FacilitationDialogueLarge group | LeanObservationProcessOperations |