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| Criterion |  Operations Visual Management |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Operations Process Mapping |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With high tempo and many parallel topics, the method makes status, deviations, and priorities visible at a glance. It reduces search effort and prevents what matters from getting lost in daily work. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | 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 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 | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | Ongoing | 15-45 min | 1-3 h | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-20 | 1-3 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception Cues | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | SignalsOperationsVisual management | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ProcessOperationsImprovement | LeanObservationProcessOperations |