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 Gemba Walk | ![]() Operations ALPEN Method | ![]() Operations Getting Things Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | With many open commitments and ideas in daily life, a reliable external storage system emerges. The method relieves the mind so priority and context don't have to compete in memory. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-120 min | 10-20 min daily | 1-2 h Setup, laufend |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 2-6 | 1 | 1 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Action Lists, Project List, Review Routine |
Tagsno overlap | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | LeanObservationProcessOperations | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | ProductivityPlanningTasksExecution |



