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| Criterion |  Operations Waste Analysis |  Delivery Value Stream Mapping |  Business Strategy TOWS Matrix |  Business Strategy GAP Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a process that keeps people busy but creates little value, the method exposes waste. It directs attention to unnecessary movement, waiting times, rework, and overdelivery. | 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. | 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. | GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | 1-2 h | 1-3 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-10 | 3-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Waste Map, Prioritized Waste, Improvement Backlog | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | TOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority Actions | Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk Notes |
Tagsno overlap | WasteLeanProcess improvement | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | StrategyAnalysisOptions | StrategyAnalysisPlanning |