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| Criterion |  Innovation TRIZ |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Learning Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | 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. | After a project phase with mixed results, the method makes learning from the individual case reusable. It connects events, decisions, and systemic conditions into robust insights. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 20-45 min | 15-30 min | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-12 | 2-6 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Learning Review Notes, System Factors, Improvement Actions |
Tagsno overlap | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity | LearningOperationsImprovement | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LearningRetrospectiveIncidentOperations |