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| Criterion |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Innovation Brainstorming |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-6 Wochen | 30–60 min | 30-60 min | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 4-8 | 4-12 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |