Final answer:
The network engineer is using the comparative approach to troubleshoot by comparing the network configurations before and after a routing protocol update, which is a common systematic problem-solving process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The network engineer using the comparative approach is troubleshooting by comparing configurations before and after a change in the routing protocol. This approach is methodical and involves careful analysis of the two states to identify the differences that may be causing the network issues.
Engineers often learn to apply a systematic problem-solving process, which includes the evaluation of alternative solutions. In the context of network engineering, comparing running configurations is a practical strategy to pinpoint configuration errors or misbehaviors introduced by recent changes.