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| Criterion |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Card Sorting |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | When content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-6 Wochen | 45–90 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-10 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Information architectureNavigationStructure |
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