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| Criterion |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Barrier Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking. | 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 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h | 15-30 min | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | StrategyAnalysisOptions | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Root causeSafetyIncident |
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