View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Delivery Value Stream Mapping |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations Bottleneck Analysis |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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 flow that backs up at one point, the method looks for the capacity limit with the greatest leverage. It explains why extra effort elsewhere barely improves throughput. | 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 | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 20-45 min | 1-3 h | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-12 | 3-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Bottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up Measures | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | LearningOperationsImprovement | FlowMeasurementConstraints | LeanObservationProcessOperations |