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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | When a navigation exists but search paths still fail, tree testing checks findability without visual distraction. The method shows whether labels, levels, and paths really lead to the intended destination. | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 1-2 Tage | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | Based on research question | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Information architectureNavigationFindability | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |
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