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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Innovation TRIZ |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles. | 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. | When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-4 h | 20-45 min | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 2-8 | Based on research question | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity | Information architectureNavigationStructure | LeanObservationProcessOperations |