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| Criterion |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Change Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-6 Wochen | 45–90 min | 45-120 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-10 | 2-6 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |